THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1 Sam 4: 1-11 Ps 44: 10-11, 14-15, 24-25 Mk 1: 40-45
REAL COMPASSION: SHARE ANOTHER’S CONDITION
The readings of today, highlight a spirituality from defeat and lament to healing and proclamation. In 1 Samuel, the Philistines are clearly the dominant power in the district. In spite of the presence of the ark that gave Israel the assurance of the presence of YHWH, they suffered a crushing loss. This revealed the Israelites misplaced trust in ritual rather than relationship with God. The same could happen in our lives if we are not careful. Do we place our trust in self-image, or do we strive to build a relationship with Christ? Their belief that God’s favour could be sought through the presence of the Ark led them to disaster. This included the death of Eli’s sons & the capture of the Ark.
In Psalm 44 we see the community feeling abandoned; cries out in anguish asking, “Why God, Why do you hide your face?” The psalm becomes a bridge between defeat and hope. It is a prayer that is honest and faithful. We do not get any easy answers from prayer. It invites us to remain in a relationship with God even in suffering and when times are difficult in life. The Psalm’s lament prepares us to receive the proclaimed word from the Gospel. A leper approaches Jesus with trust and says, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds with compassion, reaches out and touches him so that he is healed not only in body but also restores his dignity. Will we choose to be like Israel or like the leper who trusted God and was restored?
Today’s readings invite us to go beyond external signs, urging us to be open to interior transformation and to be in a relationship with God trusting Him at all times. For Mark, real compassion is understood as solidarity; when one is willing to share and enter the others condition. The love Jesus demonstrates is a love that will take him to the cross. The leper’s humble plea and Jesus’ compassion is affirmed by Pope Leo XIV in his encyclical Dilexi Te, as a love that crosses boundaries, restores dignity and invites joyful witness.
Response: Redeem us, O Lord, with your merciful love!
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