"Sarang mo ako maayo"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Marcos 1:40-45)

May isa ka aruon nga nagpalapit kay Jesus, nagluhod sa iya atubangan kag nagpangayo sing bulig. Siling niya: "Kon gusto mo, sarang mo ako maayo."

Si Jesus nagbatyag sing daku nga kaluoy, nagdab-ot sa iya, kag gintandog siya. Nagsabat sia sa iya, "Gusto ko! Mag-ayo ka!"

Sa gilayon wala na ang iya aro kag nagtinlo ang iya panit.

Ginpaandaman gid sia dayon ni Jesus kag ginpalakat gilayon. Siling ni Jesus: "Tandai, indi mo ini pag-isugid bisan kay sin-o kundi magkadto ka sa pari kag magpatan-aw ka sa iya. Magdulot ka dayon sing halad suno sa sugo ni Moises, sa pagpamatuod sa tanan nga ikaw nag-ayo na."

Pero naglakat ang tawo kag ginpanugid niya ang pag-ayo sa iya bisan diin sia magkadto. Madamo gid ang iya ginsugiran, sa bagay nga si Jesus indi na makasulod sing dayag sa bisan diin nga banwa. Gani nagtiner sia sa baw-ing nga mga lugar, pero padayon gihapon ang pagkadto sang mga tawo sa iya halin sa nagakalainlain nga mga lugar. 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your love and make me clean and whole in body, mind, and spirit. May I never doubt your love nor cease to tell others of your great mercy and compassionate care."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Do you seek the Lord Jesus with expectant faith? No one who sought Jesus out was refused his help. Even the untouchables and the outcasts of Jewish society found help in him. Unlike the people of Jesus' time who fled at the sight of a leper, Jesus touched the leper who approached him and he made him whole and clean. Why was this so remarkable? Lepers were outcasts of society. They were driven from their homes and communities and left to fend for themselves. Their physical condition was terrible as they slowly lost the use of their limbs and withered away. They were not only shunned but regarded as "already dead" even by their relatives. The Jewish law forbade anyone from touching or approaching a leper, lest ritual defilement occur. 

This leper did something quite remarkable. He approached Jesus confidently and humbly, expecting that Jesus could and would heal him. Normally a leper would be stoned or at least warded off if he tried to come near a rabbi. Jesus not only grants the man his request, but he demonstrates the personal love, compassion, and tenderness of God in his physical touch. The medical knowledge of his day would have regarded such contact as grave risk for incurring infection. Jesus met the man's misery with compassion and tender kindness. He communicated the love and mercy of God in a sign that spoke more eloquently than words. He touched the man and made him clean – not only physically but spiritually as well. 

How do you approach those who are difficult to love, or who are shunned by others because they are deformed or have some disease? Do you show them kindness and offer them mercy and help as Jesus did? The Lord is always ready to show us his mercy and to free us from whatever makes us unclean, unapproachable, or unloving towards others.