Be Made Clean

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Mark 1: 40-45: “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and
said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean’.”


During the time of Jesus, leprosy was believed to be deforming, incurable, and contagious. Lepers were ostracized by their community and families, and forced to live in the dessert or outside the villages. As the leprosy advances, the leper hardly looks human. No fingers. No toes. Face disappearing. No one wanted to draw near, no one wanted to touch them. And in a sense, they could not touch, for they could not feel anything at all. They don’t comb their hair, carry bells in their waist, and shout “unclean, unclean” as they walk to warn people of their coming. They are usually called the living dead. The Jews in the past believed that they were cursed by God because of their sins. Anyone who came in contact with them was considered “unclean” and could not go to the temple to worship God. The pain of being completely cast out of the community was really devastating.

Surprisingly, the leper’s wish to Jesus was not to be healed from leprosy but to make him clean. We miss the point of the gospel if we think that the leper’s request is equivalent to “Heal my leprosy.” The leper’s request was “I want to worship God. I want to be a part of God’s people, in relationship with Him. I want to touch others, to be in relationship to the people of God.” Of course he wanted physical healing. But becoming clean was much more important than to be healed. To be clean is to be able to return to his family, community, and the temple to worship God.

When I think of the story, I thank God for giving me a healthy skin. For us, a healthy and supple skin is an asset. We even spend a lot for moisturizers, conditioners, and lotion to keep our skin young and soft. Yet, the leper in our gospel is telling us a different kind of leprosy, hiding and living in our soul – that leprosy is called sin. This spiritual leprosy is much more dreadful and dangerous than the skin leprosy. Like the skin leprosy, it could ostracize us from our family, friends, community and God. Sin could destroy all relationships and isolates us from everybody.

How many families are broken because of unfaithfulness? How many of us are sulking in loneliness because of our failure to forgive? How many people have we hurt and in pain because of our insensitivity and selfishness? How many of us have closed our eyes and ears to the needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters because we don’t want to leave our own comfort zones? We are tainted with our own spiritual leprosy because of our own selfishness and self-centeredness. And like the skin leprosy, if left untreated, our spiritual leprosy could eat us away, go deep into our being, and gradually destroy us and our connectedness to others and to God.

Today, we are fortunate that this skin disease is now curable. Thanks to modern medicine. But our sin, the hidden leprosy, is still with us, deeply rooted in our hearts. It is deeply imbedded in our hearts that sometimes we don’t even feel that it is there. Some of us may even say, “Ganito na talaga ako, hindi ko na iyan mababago” Deeply rooted sins can control and destroy us, unless we do something about them. How? Learn from the leper.

I admire this “unknown leper” in our gospel. Despite being ostracized, ridiculed and reduced to a “non-person” status, he bravely approached Jesus. He fell on his knees (an act of submission and humility) and said: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” It was a wish. It was not even a request. He knew he was unworthy. He knew he could not heal himself or make himself clean. He knew that Jesus can! But he also knew that Jesus has the right to refuse him. He made no demand. He has no right to make a request, but to beg for Jesus’ mercy.

The Jewish law forbids people to touch lepers. But the leper’s remorseful and humble disposition moved Jesus to come to him. Jesus stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. The leper’s wish was granted – he was cleansed! Now cleansed as white as the snow, Jesus restored the leper’s right to reintegrate again with his community, live with his family and re-established his relationship God.

Our gospel today tells us of God’s unconditional graciousness. God is always willing to forgive our sins and restore our relationship with others and with Him. He wants us to be whole again and enjoy the fullness of life with Him and our love ones.

The call for us is to be like the leper in our gospel – acknowledge our spiritual leprosy, humbly come to Jesus, kneel in his presence and tell, “If you wish, you can me clean.” If there is one thing that Jesus cannot resist, it is a humble and contrite heart.
As we move closer to the Lenten Season, it is good to evaluate ourselves with the following questions:

What are my sins that cause my spiritual leprosy?
How did it affect my relationship with other people?
Do I have the courage and humility to accept them and bring it to Jesus?
Am I willing to obey Jesus’ words, “Go, and show yourself to the priest…”
and avail the sacrament of reconciliation?

---------------------------------
"Jesus, my Lord and my God. Saviour and Redeemer. Hear the cry of my heart, feel the pain of my soul, see the need of my life. Cleanse me of all my sins. Take away everything in me...
...that does not bow before you as Lord.
...that does not have your name on it.
...that is resistant to your Spirit.
...that is impure and unworthy of You.
Lord Jesus, today I feel like an outcast leper. I kneel in front of you. Cleanse me deeply. Then seal me with your Spirit. Amen."





- Fr. Willy M. Samson, SJ
Mercedes Retreat House
February 15, 2009

A Dance called "Marriage" - A Wedding Homily

I cannot deny that I am also excited every time I officiate a marriage rite. It is not because that I want to get married also, but it reminds me of the beauty of married life, because I was witness of a happy married life. Thanks to my Nanay and Tatay. My father died six years ago, but I cannot deny that until now, the memories of having a happy family stays with us, especially with my mother, and I guess the memories will stay with us forever.

Yet some of us are not excited anymore to enter the sacrament of marriage. Somehow, they have fear of it. We cannot deny the reality that not all marriages are made from heaven. We have seen happy and loving couples before, saying with feelings, “ikaw lamang ang aking mamahalin, till death do us part,” are now separated, if not they are waging a cold war with each other. We have many broken families today and we know how their children are suffering and devastated by their parents’ separation. We also know couples who are still living in one roof, and yet the fire of their love is no longer there. Their marriages become a routine and bringing up their children becomes a heavy burden and obligation and not a chosen responsibility and joy. Some couples are not even married, but living together without the Church’s blessings, because they feel that the church marriage is a legal hindrance if they decide to part ways. Why such marriages are happening now? Maybe because many married couples failed to realize that marriage is like a dance.

Married life is like watching to people dance gracefully and intimately. When I look at marriage life, it is a lot like dancing to me. One must lead the dance. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is becomes uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. In real dancing, most of the time, it is the gentleman who leads. But in the dance of life called “marriage”… the husband and wife take turns in leading the dance. And if both husband and wife learn the art of allowing each other lead or take turns in leading, it becomes a happy dance of marriage. Roderick and Rubilyn, I want you to discover your own dance by learning to respect one another and enjoy the music called life.

But such graceful and happy dance in marriage will not come to you naturally. You need to work for it. You need to desire it, starting today and for the rest of you life. Marriage is a commitment. It is a commitment of giving yourself to each other. It is a commitment of saying “I love you” and “I forgive you” to one another when one fails to dance well in the music of life. It is a commitment of not saying “ayoko na” when in the process of learning your dance, one of you accidentally made a wrong move or suddenly step on each others’ foot. Yesterday, when asked both of you, “nag-away na ba kayo?” And you answered, “Noong bago pa lang kami Father, madalas, pero hindi na ngayon.” I guess you are learning the dance slowly. But marriage life is different dance. You may still have some misunderstandings and misgiving ahead of you. But just learn to love and forgive, and you will be fine. Just hold on and persevere and you will learn your own rhythm and your own dance. It is not good to dance alone. That’s not marriage life.

Part of learning your own dance is to know the seven steps of dancing gracefully in married life. It’s a way of life on how to REMAIN IN EACH OTHER’S LOVE - to see, to listen, to touch, to chat, to pray, to walk, and to live.

To see – Learn to see each other by understanding each other in the eyes of love. Try to see the “You and I” in each other … that from now on, in married life, you are forever united and cannot be separated.

To listen – Learn to humbly listen to one another. There are still so much to learn from each other. Conflicts of ideas may still arise but listen and you will survive any trials of your married life.

To touch – Be sensitive enough to each other and spend time together. Learn to be sensitive to the needs of each other. Console each other when crisis comes and celebrate each other’s joy in times of victories.

To chat – Learn to share stories to one another. The problem with married couples now is they don’t know how to listen to each other’s stories.

To pray – Learn to pray together. What you decide in prayer together will determine the quality of your family life. Remember to consult God. If there is a third person allowed in your dance, it is God.

To walk – Always walk and work together. After this wedding ceremony, everything you do is an “our project” …”our family.” … “Our problem”

To live – Enjoy married life. It is not just raising a family. It is still you Roderick and Ruby. It is unfortunate that many couples forgot their friendship when already married. They are so caught up in raising their children. Once in a while find time to do things you love to do together. Continue window shopping together at pueblo. Attend Mass together in this church. Take care of your parents together. Do things you enjoy doing together. Your friendship is too beautiful to forget after today’s ceremony. After all, your friendship is the foundation of your married life.

Learn to choose to love and fall in love everyday. Say YES to each other everyday. And before you know it, you are enjoying the dance of life called marriage. And years from now, your children will embrace and thank you for giving them a wonderful family, and for showing them how to dance gracefully in married life.

It is true that not all marriages are made in heaven. But with your constant and unwavering love and by remembering to see, to listen, to touch, to chat, to pray, to walk, and to live together daily, you will make your marriage and your home, a piece of heaven here on earth.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.


(A Homily for the Wedding of Roderick and Rubilyn)

- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag Parish
Tumaga, Zamboanga City
January 31, 2009