February 15, 2015 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 77

Reading 1 LV 13:1-2, 44-46

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
“If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch
which appears to be the sore of leprosy,
he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.

“The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

Contracting leprosy was a terrible cross to bear.  Those who contracted leprosy had to die to themselves and put all other human beings before themselves.  They had to humble themselves in an extreme manner.  Because if they didn't, those whom they loved the most, would be most likely to be hurt.

I say, "was a terrible cross" because in the US, leprosy is all but unknown.  However, in certain parts of the world, it still exists.   

Responsorial Psalm PS 32:1-2, 5, 11

R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

God calls us and we turn to Him.  And we obey Him and He saves us.

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.

God calls us and we repent of our sins.  We ask for Baptism and He washes away our sins.

R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.

God speaks to us through the Church, we repent of our sins, then our priests pray for us in place of Christ.

R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.

R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

And then, we rejoice with the Saints, because God will save us.  Our hope is in Him.

Reading 2 1 COR 10:31—11:1

Brothers and sisters,
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God.

Everything we do, we should always be thankful to God that we can do it.  Because all is His.  Even our very lives.

Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or
the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way,
not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,
that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

We must love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  

Alleluia LK 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst,
God has visited his people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus Christ, the manGod, Second Person of the Holy Trinity, was born of the Virgin Mary and became man.

Gospel MK 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning the him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

We are lepers.  We are born with Original Sin and because of that, we can't help but be selfish sinners.  When we turn to Christ and repent of our sins, we come to the Sacraments and He washes our souls.  We then rejoice!  Because we live amongst the Saints which are in heaven!