Who Am I in today's Scripture Reading?

In today's first reading, Acts 8: 1b-8, while "[d]evout men buried Steven", Saul was going from door to door arresting men and women who believed in Jesus.  He handed followers of Jesus over to the authorities to be thrown into prison.  In spite of the danger of being arrested, "Philip went down to Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them." Demons were being cast out, the sick were being healed, paralyzed and crippled people were being cured of their disabilities.  "There was great joy in that city."

Who am I in this story?  One of the believers in Jesus willing to risk my reputation, yes, even my life, in proclaiming Christ and living a faith-filled life? Am I a "Saul" who persecutes those of a religion different from my own, those who disagree with my beliefs or of my way of thinking?  Am I one from whom "demons" are being cast out, my life being transformed in Jesus' name, my "paralysis" being healed, that is, I am being freed from that which paralyzes me from doing what is right and just, kind and loving?  Am I one who brings "great joy" to the world in which I live?  The choices are mine to make!

Jesus, "the expiation for our sins"

We continue to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, who, in the words of the second reading, 1 John 2:1-5a, "is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world."  In the first reading, Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19, Peter gives witness to the people that God "has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead, of this we are witnesses."

Jesus, the Risen One, sits at the right hand of His Father, and ours, in heaven, making intercession for us.  He is the one about whom Peter reminds us "is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world." Jesus became sin itself upon the cross for us! In the shedding of His blood, Jesus destroyed sin and death for all. In every Eucharist, we drink the blood of Jesus and eat of His Body, as the bread and wine are transformed into Jesus through the words of consecration by the priest. In coming to us as food and drink, Jesus destroys sin and death in us as well!

Oh, the greatness of our God.  Jesus, the Son of God, held nothing back in reconciling us to the Father and showing us how much God loves each one of us: unto death!  And just as Peter said to the crowd to whom He was giving witness,  I know you acted out ignorance, just as your leaders did"  in killing Jesus on the cross, so, too, Jesus says to us in our sinfulness that we act out of ignorance. If we truly knew what we were doing, for instance, when we act violently toward one another,  in to the point of using weapons of mass destruction, we truly would have a change of heart, as did Paul on the road to Damascus when Jesus asked him: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

Oh, the goodness and the greatness of God's love for us!

The Lord's Compassion

In today's Gospel, Mark 1: 40-45,  a leper approaches Jesus and says to Him:  "'If you wish, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, 'I do will it. Be made clean.'"

First of all, the leper knows that he is a leper. Do I realize in what ways "leprosy" has invaded my being?   When I am ostracized  by  others, do I realize why others prefer to protect themselves from me?

Second of all, notice how the leper approaches Jesus. He says:  "If you wish., you can make me clean."  Such childlikeness, respect and discipline!    No self-pity. No complaining! No whining. No "Why me-s?"  Just: "If you wish, you can make me clean.'  Lord,  may I, like the leper, first of all, recognize my need to be cleansed? Of what? Most of all, Lord, a "leprosy" that leads me, without my apologizing for my behavior,  to degrade a neighbor, to speak sarcastically to or of others; a "leprosy" that mars my beauty as a Christian in such a way that I am not recognized as your child; a "leprosy" that leads me to believe that I am entitled to being served by others rather than serving others.  The question is: Do we even know what "leprosy" within us needs Jesus' healing touch?

Thirdly, notice the leper's humility and simplicity!  Would I characterize my prayer, my relationship with God, as humble and simple?  Is my prayer even honest when it comes to acknowledging my weaknesses, my violation of another person's right to be treated respectfully, kindly, and lovingly or however I have fallen short of my Christian vocation?

And finally, notice Jesus' response to the leper: "Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him: 'I will it. Be made clean.'"  Jesus is always moved with pity toward us as well and wills to heal us. If we approach Jesus, as the leper did, in humility and simplicity and express our need for healing of that which ostracizes or alienates us from our family, friends, community and even from our true selves, we will be healed in time.

Lord, help me come to you honestly and humbly, knowing and acknowledging my need for healing!

The Paralyzed Person and His Friends

In today’s Gospel, Mark 2: 1-2, four men carry their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Not able to get near the door, they devise a plan; namely,  to lower their friend through the roof.Their faith in Jesus’ ability to heal their friend never wavers. They do not flinch when they meet obstacles to their self-determined mission to get their friend to Jesus so that He can heal his paralysis and return to him his ability to walk.  

There are times in our lives that the healing power of Jesus becomes available to us through the faith of others. At other times, it is our faith that will be essential for other people to realize who Jesus is and to be healed by Him.

In today’s reading, who am I? the paralyzed man, or one of the persons who finds a way to get others to experience Jesus’ love, compassion and willingness to heal their infirmities, their paralysis of mind, body, spirit? Or am I the person who needs others to bring me to Jesus? Or,on the other hand, could I be one of the scribes who is biffed at what Jesus does and who challenges Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.

May I recognize who I am and bring that person to Jesus to be touched by God's mercy, love and compassion; for a deepening of my faith and a firmer trust in who Jesus can be for me in my infirmities, my weaknesses, and vulnerabilities!