Sunday Mass Readings and Questionsfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, February 14th, 2021The First Reading - Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which

appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests among his descendants. If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore on his head. “The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” Reflection The book of Leviticus was written primarily for the priests

of Israel, the Levites. It draws together various bodies of law and ritual, starting with the laws concerning the Levites themselves; and in fact this book becomes a manual for conducting the liturgy. Adults - Take some time to look into the liturgical practices of the Old Testament and consider how our own practices have developed from there. Teens - Why are rules important? How do they help keep us safe?Kids - How do God’s laws show His love for us?Responsorial- Psalm 32:1-2,5,11R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile.R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not.I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin.R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart.R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.Reflection The Lord promises peace that is not of this world when we turn to Him. Do you turn to God when you are facing trials? The Second Reading- 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1Brothers and sisters, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Sunday Mass Readings and Questionsfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, February 14th, 2021Reflection - In everything a Christian does they should seek the glory of God by always acting with the best of intentions. Each person is morally responsible not only for their own actions, but also for the influence their behavior has on the good or bad actions of others. -What does it mean to live life as an example of the Body of Christ?

The Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:40-45A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, 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. 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. Reflection This miracle illustrates Jesus’ power to save even those excluded from Israel by the Mosaic Law. Why did He touch him, since the Law forbade the touching of a leper? He touched him to show that ‘all things are clean to the clean’ (Titus 1:15). Because the filth that is in one person does not adhere to others, nor does external uncleanness defile the clean of heart. So He touches him in his untouchability, that He might instruct us in humility; that He might teach us that we should despise no one, or abhor them or regard them as pitiable, because of some wound on their body or some blemish for which they might be called to render an account.” [Origen (ca. A.D. 245), The Healing Of The Leper] Also, like the leper, we are to approach Jesus in humility and shame because we have allowed sin to stain our baptismal garment. Shame should not prevent us from confessing; the leper showed Jesus his sores and begged to be healed. Likewise, we must approach Jesus in the sacrament of reconciliation by putting aside our pride, confessing our sins, and experiencing His healing.Adults - Have you been guilty of gossip or passing judgement on the worth of another? How can you keep from this in the future?Teens - What should we do when we are tempted to gossip or slander?Kids - Pray a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for loving each of His children completely and equally.LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! - Thanks be to God, for his infinite compassion! Thanks be to God, for Christ his Son, who came and dwelt amongst us! He put heaven and a share in the life of God within our reach; he has shown us how to attain them, giving in his Church and the

Sunday Mass Readings and Questionsfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday, February 14th, 2021sacraments, all the necessary aids. But we still need all of Christ's compassion if we are to get there. Because of our inclination to sin and because of the many times we unfortunately give in to that inclination, nothing but the mercy of God can save us from our own folly. However, that mercy is available, if only we ask for it. What we sinners need is the faith and confidence of the leper in today's gospel reading. He believed firmly in the power and the mercy of Jesus. "If you will, you can make me clean," was his approach to Jesus. — Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin

O'Sullivan, O.F.M Let us call upon Jesus this week for every area our lives that needs to be made clean!