Imitating Christ

From green pastures to ashes, we continue our pilgrim journey witnessing the liturgical season pass from Ordinary Time to Lent. The Sunday Mass readings in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time focus once again on the healing ministry of Jesus, followed by the dawn of Lent with the call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, stepping stones for our 40-day journey to Easter.

Be gone (Lv 13:1-2, 44-46)
The prescription of the law during the time of Moses directed that anyone bearing the sores of leprosy, diagnosed by the chief priest, would be designated as “unclean” and cast out of the community to “dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” If one were to approach a leper, the leper was to identify as “unclean” to avoid a close encounter and possible spread of infection: a permanent quarantine.  This was almost like death to those who were essentially outcast, abandoned and gone from the community.

Be made clean (Mk 1:40-45)
This reading from the Book of Leviticus sets the scene for the account of the cleansing of a leper in St. Mark’s Gospel. Here we see a leper approach Jesus. Falling to his knees, the leper, in an act of faith, begs Jesus, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” The man with leprosy not only broke the Mosaic Law, he risked his life to request such a petition. What moved him? Perhaps he heard about or witnessed Jesus’ teaching or performing miracles in Capernaum. Hence, he was confident on placing himself at the feet of the one he knew could make him clean. The leper professes hope, “If you wish …” The power of the man’s petition is his hope in Jesus’ “yes.” Jesus, our Lord, “moved with pity,” touched the leper without hesitation and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Jesus sent the healed man to the priests to verify the healing and establish him to “dwell within the camp” of life in community. Jesus healed the one who was outcast and now, made clean, was able to go home.

Imitating Christ (1 Cor 10:31-1:11)
St. Paul reminds us that our actions should come from desiring to proclaim the glory of God without the spotlight on ourselves. Am what I am doing for others leading them on a path of salvation. Am I seeking first, what is best for me or best for another? Am I, like Jesus with the leper, doing what is good for others for their own personal well-being? Am I making an outcast of others because of their afflictions? Am I imitating Christ in what I think, say and do?

Come home for Lent (Jl 2:12-18)
Ash Wednesday is here. Some have likened this past year as a long season of Lent beyond the traditional 40 days. It could seem that way, as we ebb and flow through the pandemic: light one day, darkness the next. But how is God allowing us to grow in his light during this time. We hear in Chapter 2 of the Book of Joel the announcement of a day of the Lord. If you go back to Joel, Chapter 1, you will read the announcement of “an unprecedented disaster.”

It is in Chapter 2 that God calls the Israelites back to him with their entire heart, “with fasting, weeping and mourning.” Times of disaster remind us of just how precious and fleeting is life. In these times, as even in good times, our hope rests in God’s mercy, love and gratuitous compassion. God only wants what is best for his people. 

God does not desire our sinfulness to be our end. Rather, he welcomes our repentance, our contrite hearts as we admit our fault and desire to be reconciled to him. Upon our act of contrition, God responds as he opens the floodgates of his eternal mercy and invites us to come home WITH ALL OUR HEARTS. 

St. Paul explains now is the time to be reconciled to God for salvation has come in Jesus Christ. Now is the time. Not tomorrow. Now.

Stepping stones: alms, fast, pray (Mt 1:1-6, 16-18)
So where do we begin? We begin with the one who walks the path with us: Jesus. He not only accompanies us, but he also guides our actions and empowers our disposition by teaching us how to give alms, pray and fast. 

When we partake in these three actions we are to act so that only God knows. This is a path of humility. As we “step on these stones” our actions are loving sacrifices which are directed to serve God and others and not for to boast. When we give, we give from our time, talent and treasure for the good of those who have less than us. When we fast, we offer our sacrifice for a way of obedience, discernment and self-gift for love of God and love of others, same as Jesus did on the cross, the ultimate sacrifice of love. When we pray, we pray to deepen our relationship with God, respond to God’s will and grow in love of neighbor.

Fulfillment in the desert (Mk 1:12-15)

Led by the Holy Spirit, Jesus begins his mission with prayer and fasting in the desert. Those 40 days of abstinence prepared him for what was to come. He is not alone. Satan attacks our Lord with temptations of temporal promises. Yet, unlike Adam who accepted the empty promises of Satan, Jesus conquers the temptations and begins the fulfillment of salvation for all. He emptied himself completely “for our sake and our salvation.” Upon returning to Galilee Jesus says the words we hear as ashes are sprinkled on our heads, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Here we begin our personal journey in the desert. 
Year of St. Joseph
As St. Joseph protected the Blessed Mother and the child, Jesus, on their journey to Egypt, may St. Joseph protect us from all evil and lead us on a path of holy comfort and peace. Amen. JMJ

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.