January 12, 2023 – Mark 1:40-45
Lepers were thought to be among the most unfortunate people in Jesus’ time. Although little was known about the origin of the disease, it was clearly known that it was contagious and, therefore, much feared. The only solution was to isolate the victim and not allow him or her to be in the community. So aside from the terrible disease that destroyed the physical, there was the social ostracism, contempt and fear that the victim engendered.
The encounter between the leper and Jesus is very beautiful and significant: on the one hand, the position of the leper who kneels down, touching the bare ground; on the other hand, that of Jesus who stoops down, bends toward him and extends his hand. On the one hand a frail plea, a feeble voice, the dim and humble tone, “If you want you can cleanse me.”
On the other is authority, the sure Word, the power of healing. This is how miracles happen: humility and trust are indispensable.
The leper is presented only through his disease; he has no name: he is a leper and that defines him.
Despite the apparent simplicity of this miracle, the story has provoked much discussion both because of the textual translation and because of its real meaning: is it a healing or a cleansing?
First, the disease. The term leprosy covers in the Bible a wide range of diseases, skin afflictions and even impurities of objects (fabrics) or mold of houses, according to the list in Lev 13-14. It seems that the actual “Hansen’s disease” did not exist at the time the book of Leviticus was written, but it is possible that at the time of Jesus the lexeme
Greek hare could also have meant that disease, attested in Israel from the Hellenistic period.
Healing from sickness is a gift given by covenant faithfulness, based on God’s promise, according to what is said in Ex 23:25-26, and repeated in Deut 7:15 (the Lord will turn away all infirmity from you and will not send upon you any of those deadly diseases of Egypt, which you well knew, but will send them to those who hate you). The condition for the promise of Deut. to take effect, however, is that Israel remain faithful to God’s commitment. Particularly expressive in this regard is the admonition in Lev 26:14-15. After warning against noncompliance with the covenant, God adds, I will send against you terror, consumption and fever, which will make your eyes languish and consume your life (v. 16). This is the first of a long list of “signs” and chastisements that indicate rebellion against the covenant, which, however, never reach the total annihilation of Israel (v. 45).
For the good workers…
– Mark’s passage closes by saying that “they came to him (Jesus) from all sides.” We can, then, listen to the author of the letter to the Hebrews and follow his invitation, “Let us therefore also come out of the camp and go to him…” (Heb. 13:13).
– Let us therefore be full of joy and in difficulties let us do as the leper in the Gospel did: let us approach the Lord and say to him, “If you will, you can. I am powerless, but you, if you will, can.” Let us repeat this to him, knowing that it is perfectly true and that this is the prayer he is waiting for us to repeat his promise and assurance of God’s gift.
P JOBY KAVUNGAL RCJ