Reflection - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The readings from this Sundays liturgy are a bit unique given that they present an undeniably unified theme. This theme is a fairly straight-forward theme that we see often sprinkled throughout the liturgy. If one is unclean, we need only to reach out to God and He will make us clean again. Nonetheless, the idea does deserve a bit more analysis. I believe that the readings take us on a journey, and by its end, we as faithful people are given a three step process for excepting our failings and growing in our relationship with God.
While the first reading and Gospel refer to leprosy, a condition that ensure one would be outcast from normal public life, it is, I think, without coincidence that the condition is nearly likened to that of a life of sin, a life in which we find ourselves acting outside of the will of our heavenly father. In the first reading, it is interesting that which is decreed, specifically that one who is "unclean" should have it declared so publicly. It is not our common practice to declare our shortcomings publicly as was once the practice of the Church in a time when confessions were made publicly before a bishop.
The first step of the process then is to open up to admitting our faults, especially to those who might be impacted by them. This is never easy. We wish to paint a picture of ourselves as righteous people, and we do this by bottling up all of our secret misgivings. We keep our failings for ourselves alone, and in so doing, disable the healing help of God and deprive ourselves of any aid that our closest friends and family might be able to offer us. When we open our hearts to vulnerability, however, by admitting our faults, we open ourselves to help, both divine and earthly.
The second step is outlined quite directly in the second reading: "Be imitators of me, for I am Christ." If we are realistic, one might realize that it is not possible to thoroughly imitate Christ. We are too consumed by our humanity to be so selfless and so aligned with the will of God. Perhaps this quote contains a slightly different context. Paul is, I think, pointing out to the Corinthians that by the mystery of Christ's Church, we all bear Christ within us. It is our responsibility to search for Christ within our own hearts and the hearts and faces of those around us. When we do this, we find love and healing in places we might not have expected, be it in our coworkers, our friends, our family, our ministers, our enemies, our children, and so on.
The final step is one that many of us simply forget, to ask God for grace. Just as the leper begged Christ for healing, we can beg for the same healing grace. In so doing, we are transformed, not merely because God forgives sins, but because we grow closer to a Father who wishes only the best for us. There is no price, no preconditions, and no harsh punishment. In asking for God's love, we receive only the gifts that come with humble trust in the saving power of Christ.
While the first reading and Gospel refer to leprosy, a condition that ensure one would be outcast from normal public life, it is, I think, without coincidence that the condition is nearly likened to that of a life of sin, a life in which we find ourselves acting outside of the will of our heavenly father. In the first reading, it is interesting that which is decreed, specifically that one who is "unclean" should have it declared so publicly. It is not our common practice to declare our shortcomings publicly as was once the practice of the Church in a time when confessions were made publicly before a bishop.
The first step of the process then is to open up to admitting our faults, especially to those who might be impacted by them. This is never easy. We wish to paint a picture of ourselves as righteous people, and we do this by bottling up all of our secret misgivings. We keep our failings for ourselves alone, and in so doing, disable the healing help of God and deprive ourselves of any aid that our closest friends and family might be able to offer us. When we open our hearts to vulnerability, however, by admitting our faults, we open ourselves to help, both divine and earthly.
The second step is outlined quite directly in the second reading: "Be imitators of me, for I am Christ." If we are realistic, one might realize that it is not possible to thoroughly imitate Christ. We are too consumed by our humanity to be so selfless and so aligned with the will of God. Perhaps this quote contains a slightly different context. Paul is, I think, pointing out to the Corinthians that by the mystery of Christ's Church, we all bear Christ within us. It is our responsibility to search for Christ within our own hearts and the hearts and faces of those around us. When we do this, we find love and healing in places we might not have expected, be it in our coworkers, our friends, our family, our ministers, our enemies, our children, and so on.
The final step is one that many of us simply forget, to ask God for grace. Just as the leper begged Christ for healing, we can beg for the same healing grace. In so doing, we are transformed, not merely because God forgives sins, but because we grow closer to a Father who wishes only the best for us. There is no price, no preconditions, and no harsh punishment. In asking for God's love, we receive only the gifts that come with humble trust in the saving power of Christ.