February 13, 2000

Mark 1:40-45 (CEV)

A man with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt down. He begged, "You have the the power to make me well, if only you wanted to."

Jesus felt sorry for the man. So he put his hand on him and said, "I want to! Now you are well." At once the man's leprosy disappeared, and he was well.

After Jesus strictly warned the man, he sent him on his way. He said, "Don't tell anyone about this. Just go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed."

The man talked about it so much and told so many people, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town. He had to stay away from the towns, but people still came to him from everywhere.

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1. There are so many who are hurting in this world. The cry comes to the Body of Christ, the Church, "What is your intention for us? Do you want to heal us?"
     Can we do less than Jesus? Yes, we want to make a difference in people's lives. GOD, strengthen our desire!

2. This is the conclusion of the first chapter of Mark. What a ride it has been. From Isaiah to John we get ready. Jesus is GOD's beloved and by extension we who are baptized also hear that pronouncement about ourselves. Hearing ourselves as "beloved" turns us from ourselves alone to missionaries with a message that the time has come to see GOD's Domain present. Jesus teaches and heals with authority and moves on, so not to be trapped in "We've always done it that way."

3. Jesus' intention from last week was to go to other towns and now we hear how that became untenable with everyone looking for healing for its own sake, not to turn them around and send them authoritatively forth. Yet, once loosed, the Beloved cannot hide but is sought out.
     What are you seeking for these days?

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