By Naresh Namindla, CSC –
Readings: 1Sam 4: 1-11; Mk 1: 40 – 45
As human beings, we desire many things. We think the more things we accumulate the happier we become. This desire for accumulating things does not allow us to think whether it is needed for us or not. We tend to use the same attitude in our prayer too. We begin to ask God for many things to be fulfilled without even realizing whether they are needed for us or not. We tend to ask God what we desire and please us. But God does what is good for us and what he wills in us.
In the first reading we witness the people of Israel losing battle against Philistines. They thought that the loss of battle against Philistines was due to the absence of the Ark of the Covenant. In the later part of the reading, people brought the Ark of the Covenant and placed it among them and called Philistines for another battle. Though philistines were frightened to go for battle because of the presence of the Ark of the Covenant they won over Israel.
In the Gospel reading, we see a leper who comes to Jesus with great faith and asks Jesus to heal him if Jesus chooses to heal. By asking this the leper is not demanding Jesus of the thing that he is in need of, rather leaves it to Jesus to decide whether the leper is worthy to experience his healing touch. As a result Jesus, who is pleased by the approach of leper, heals him saying ‘your faith has healed you.’
Therefore, today’s liturgy invites us to deepen our relationship and faith in Jesus, not to expect external victories like Israel but to experience his presence in us according to his will like the leper in the gospel.