Daily Retreat 01/11/07
2007 Jan 11 Thu
Heb 3: 7-14/ Ps 94(95): 6-7c. 8-9. 10-11/ Mk 1: 40-45
From today’s readings: “Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.... If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.... go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed.... ”
Show Yourself to the Priest
After compassionately healing a man of leprosy, Jesus sent him away with some noteworthy instructions: “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
In ancient times, leprosy was not only a personal physical disease, because indeed, the fear of contagion also effectively ostracized the leper from the community. Even after a man had been healed of leprosy, before he could return to the community, he had to first present himself to the priest for inspection and a ritual offering and cleansing (cf. Leviticus 14).
Sin, it must be remembered, is likewise not only a personal spiritual disease, but also a rupture from God’s family. That’s one of the reasons why, in the sacrament of reconciliation, the penitent presents himself to the priest for confession and sacramental forgiveness. The priest then, in the name of God, effects and certifies the healing of the sin-wounded relationship, and so, by Divine Mercy, the penitent is reconciled to God and His Church.
Heb 3: 7-14/ Ps 94(95): 6-7c. 8-9. 10-11/ Mk 1: 40-45
From today’s readings: “Encourage yourselves daily while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.... If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.... go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed.... ”
Show Yourself to the Priest
After compassionately healing a man of leprosy, Jesus sent him away with some noteworthy instructions: “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
In ancient times, leprosy was not only a personal physical disease, because indeed, the fear of contagion also effectively ostracized the leper from the community. Even after a man had been healed of leprosy, before he could return to the community, he had to first present himself to the priest for inspection and a ritual offering and cleansing (cf. Leviticus 14).
Sin, it must be remembered, is likewise not only a personal spiritual disease, but also a rupture from God’s family. That’s one of the reasons why, in the sacrament of reconciliation, the penitent presents himself to the priest for confession and sacramental forgiveness. The priest then, in the name of God, effects and certifies the healing of the sin-wounded relationship, and so, by Divine Mercy, the penitent is reconciled to God and His Church.
posted by FrPitstick | 1/09/2007
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