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Gospel Reading for January 15, 2026 – Mark 1: 40-45
NEW LIFE
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “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.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
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The leper did not just ask Jesus to make him clean. He knelt before him and begged him. “If you wish, you can make me clean” made the faith of the leper so emphatic. He was so sure that Jesus would heal him because Jesus would surely wish it for him. Because, how could one so filled with love, not have pity on him? Indeed, he received the reward of having such faith and trust in Jesus.
Despite being told not to do so, he wanted to tell the whole world of the Love of Jesus. Who would not, after being freed of a dreadful disease and after being saved from condemnation and ostracism. In short, after being given NEW LIFE!
At our Baptism, we are given NEW LIFE. We are freed of our bondage to sin. We are given such powers to overcome evil with divine grace from the Holy Spirit.
Have we ever thought how very blessed we Christians are, not to have to beg for our freedom because Jesus chose and just wished for us to have it?
Lord Jesus, help us increase our faith! If all of us can have the faith of the leper, there would be miracles here and there!
