Mark 1:40-45 (NRSV)
Read Mark 1:40-45 on biblegateway.com
Verse 40A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Verse 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Verse 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. Verse 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, Verse 44saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Verse 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Devotion
Often parents are concerned about their children associating with “the wrong kind of people.” They are concerned the reputation of the others might influence or “rub off” on their children.
In the same way, Jesus took upon himself the mark of uncleanliness by healing the leper. In a different way, however, Jesus’ mission was precisely about mingling with those the status quo would consider “the wrong kind of people.” Concerned about how news of this sort would be interpreted, he asked the leper to keep silent about his healing and only perform the ritual cleaning and offering.
But when one experiences a miracle of that magnitude – having one’s life restored – there is no keeping silent. The newly restored man proclaimed his good news to everyone he met!
Prayer
For all the ways that you restore us to new life, we give you thanks, O Lord. Amen.