January 13, 2005 - Thursday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time

If I Could Only Touch Him

Readings:
Heb 3:7-14; Ps 95:6-7, 8-9, 10-11
Mk 1:40-45

Opening Prayer

God our Father,
you let your Son Jesus Christ
share the lot of outcasts
and bear the sufferings of all.
Let us become like him,
so that among us no one stays an outcast,
no sin remains unforgivable,
no misery is a cause for rejection.
Make us with your Son
people who lift up the despised
with words of welcome
and deeds of encouragement.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction:

The Letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish converts to Christianity who suffered much on account of their faith. On account of persecutions from the Jews, many of them had fled from their home country Palestine, to live among pagans. They felt insecure and threatened as “displaced persons”; hence, they were in danger, like their ancestors in the desert, of grumbling, contesting God, perhaps giving up their faith. Today they are told: “Do not harden your hearts, but keep trusting and listening to God.” Are these not fitting words today to a Church in transition, a Church that is unsettled?

First Reading: Heb 3:7-14

Listen to what the Holy Spirit says: If only you would hear God's voice today! Do not be stubborn, as they were in the place called Rebellion, when your ancestors challenged me in the desert, although they had seen my deeds for forty years. That is why I was angry with those people and said: Their hearts are always going astray and they do not understand my ways. I was angry and made a solemn vow: They will never enter my rest.

So, brothers, be careful lest some of you come to have an evil and unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. Encourage one another, day by day, as long as it is called today. Let no one become hardened in the deceitful way of sin. We are associated with Christ provided we hold steadfastly to our initial hope until the end.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95:6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Forty years I was wearied of that generation;
I said: "This people's heart goes astray,
they do not know my ways."
Therefore I swore in my anger:
"They shall never enter my rest."
R (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Gospel Introduction:

There is the story of the father whose child had been born badly deformed. He was disheartened and could not love it. But one day he said: “If I can only kiss and touch it, then I can completely accept it.” And that is what he did. Jesus did not only heal the leper but he touched him, showing that he loved and accepted the man completely.

Gospel Reading: Mk 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and begged him, "If you so will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." The leprosy left the man at once and he was made clean. As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest and for the cleansing bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way you will make your declaration."

However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though he stayed in the rural areas, people came to him from everywhere.

Commentary

THIS is the second story of a leper we have heard in two weeks time. Now Jesus is described as filled with pity for the plight of the man who stands before him. And he touches him but tells him, go to the authorities and be declared clean so that he might rejoin society. But the man instead begins to announce to anyone who will listen that Jesus touched him! And in so doing he makes Jesus as unclean in the society as he had been. Now Jesus can't go openly into towns, but people are so desperate that they will ignore the taboo of untouchability and go out to Jesus in the desert. Those who are obviously sinners or who cannot hide their predicaments or situations call forth pity from Jesus. And what about us-what do such desperate people call forth from us? Have we tried to touch anyone in such need?

General Intercessions

–  With all those who seek pardon and reconciliation, we cry out to you, Lord.

–  With all who have found forgiveness, we praise you, Lord:

–  With all who wail day and night in their loneliness and misery, we cry out to you, Lord. With all those who have found friends to help, we praise you, Lord:

–   With all who hide their suffering, we cry to you, Lord. With all who share with others and uplift them, we praise you, Lord:

Prayer over the Gifts

Merciful Father,
with bread and wine we remember
how you raised us up
above our guilt and fears and our isolation.

Dispose us to share with all
your joy, your acceptance, and affection
on account of him who shared our poverty
and made himself weak and humble with us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer After Communion

Loving, merciful Father,
at the table of your Son we have learned
to be present to one another
as he has been present among us here
with a love that is discreet and reviving
like a breath of fresh air.
On account of him who has taken away
the hardness of our hearts,
dispose us to share our riches and our poverty,
but also to receive one another and from each other
and to touch one another with our love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

How very happy our community would be if we could fully accept one another just as we are, without condemning, without judging or begrudging, without looking down on anyone, without trying to create one another into our own image and likeness. Let us build up one another with the Blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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