0:07
reading of the letter to the Hebrews
0:09
Brothers listen to what the Holy Spirit
0:12
declares today if you hear his voice do
0:15
not Harden your hearts as happened in
0:17
the provocation in the day of Temptation
0:20
in the wilderness where your fathers
0:22
tempted me putting me to the test
0:24
although they saw my works for 40 years
0:27
therefore I was angry with this
0:28
generation and said they always deceive
0:31
themselves in their hearts and do not
0:33
know my ways so I swore in my anger they
0:36
will not enter my rest take care
0:39
Brothers lest there be found in any of
0:42
you a heart LED astray by unbelief
0:44
leading him to turn away from the Living
0:46
God rather encourage one another day by
0:49
day as long as it still says today so
0:52
that none of you become hardened by the
0:54
deceitfulness of sin for we have become
0:57
Companions of Christ as long as we keep
0:59
our trust firm Until the End initial
1:02
word of the Lord thank
1:11
God proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
1:14
Christ according to St Mark Glory To You
1:18
Lord at that time a leper came close to
1:21
Jesus and on his knees asked if you want
1:24
you have the power to Heal me Jesus full
1:28
of compassion reached out his hand hand
1:30
touched him and said I want be healed
1:34
instantly the leprosy disappeared and he
1:37
was cured then Jesus immediately sent
1:40
him away speaking firmly don't tell
1:43
anyone about this go show yourself to
1:46
the priest and offer for your
1:48
purification what Moses commanded as
1:50
proof for them he went and started to
1:53
tell and publicize the fact a lot that's
1:56
why Jesus could no longer publicly enter
1:58
a city he stayed outside in deserted
2:02
places and they came looking for him
2:04
from everywhere word of Salvation Glory
2:15
Lord today dear brothers and sisters the
2:19
readings call us to reflect deeply on
2:21
the hardness of our hearts and the
2:22
restorative power of Christ in our lives
2:25
let's start with a question how many
2:28
times in our spiritual Journeys have we
2:30
hardened our hearts before the voice of
2:32
God perhaps out of fear doubt or even
2:35
Comfort we close our ears to the Lord's
2:37
call missing the opportunity to
2:39
experience his grace in full in the
2:42
first reading taken from the letter to
2:44
the Hebrews we hear the echo of the
2:46
psalm today if you hear his voice do not
2:49
Harden your hearts it is an urgent
2:52
appeal an invitation not to resist God's
2:55
action in us the image of the hardened
2:57
heart is rich in meaning a hardened
3:00
heart is like dry cracked Earth that
3:02
cannot accommodate the seed it is
3:05
impervious to love compassion and
3:08
repentance like this Earth our hearts
3:11
can become sterile unable to bear fruit
3:14
if we do not allow God to renew us the
3:17
passage continues with a warning about
3:18
the dangers of unbelief the author urges
3:22
us to encourage one another so that none
3:24
of us is deceived by sin here we see a
3:27
call to community life to the
3:29
responsibility we have for each other on
3:30
the Journey of Faith just as a fire
3:33
needs would to keep it burning our faith
3:35
also needs the warmth of community
3:37
sharing friendly words that sustain us
3:40
in moments of doubt in the gospel of
3:42
Mark we find a deeply moving scene a
3:45
leer moved by bold Faith approaches
3:48
Jesus and says if you want you have the
3:51
power to cleanse me leprosy in jesus'
3:54
time was not just a physical illness it
3:58
brought with it social and religious
4:00
exclusion the leper was considered
4:02
unclean someone banished from
4:04
socializing with others relegated to the
4:06
margins of society now imagine for a
4:10
moment that man's pain not just the
4:13
physical wounds but the emotional and
4:15
spiritual scars of being rejected by
4:17
your own Community he carries a heavy
4:20
cross but his faith leads him to the
4:22
only one who can truly restore him Jesus
4:25
moved by compassion does something
4:28
Unthinkable he he touches the leper in a
4:31
gesture that breaks all social and
4:33
religious conventions Jesus demonstrates
4:36
that God's love knows no barriers by
4:39
touching that man he not only heals his
4:41
illness but restores his dignity giving
4:44
him back his place in the community and
4:46
in life Jesus touch is not just physical
4:50
it is a touch that transforms that
4:52
reintegrates that recreates this
4:55
encounter reveals to us two essential
4:57
things about the heart of God first God
5:01
does not turn away from our misery he is
5:03
not disgusted by our wounds or our sins
5:07
on the contrary he approaches touches us
5:10
and offers us his Mercy second this
5:14
gesture challenges us to examine how we
5:16
treat the marginalized in our own lives
5:19
how often do we avoid those who suffer
5:21
those who seem impure in our eyes
5:24
whether because of their faults their
5:26
past or their circumstances this story
5:29
also teach teaches us something about
5:31
faith the leper approaches Jesus with
5:33
absolute confidence if you want you have
5:36
the power to cleans me he recognizes the
5:39
power of Jesus but submits to the Divine
5:42
will it is a model of prayer for us
5:45
trust in God's power but humility to
5:48
accept his will now let's see how these
5:51
two passages connect the leper in his
5:54
misery is the perfect example of someone
5:57
who has not hardened his heart he heard
5:59
the voice of Jesus and responded in
6:02
faith on the other hand the Pharisees
6:04
and religious leaders of the day who
6:07
often criticize Jesus for his
6:08
compassionate actions are examples of
6:11
those who hardened their hearts their
6:13
traditions and prejudices blinded them
6:15
to the truth that God was at work among
6:17
them we can ask ourselves where are we
6:21
in this story are we like the leper
6:24
conscious of our need for God or like
6:26
those who Harden their hearts before his
6:28
Voice May maybe we are a little of both
6:32
sometimes we approach god with
6:33
confidence but other times we allow
6:35
doubt Pride or fear to draw us away from
6:38
him today's call is clear today if you
6:42
hear his voice do not Harden your hearts
6:45
God speaks to us in many ways in his
6:48
word in the sacraments in the needs of
6:51
others and even in life's challenges we
6:54
need to be attentive and willing to
6:56
respond but how can we soften our hearts
6:59
and open open ourselves to God's action
7:01
first we must cultivate humility
7:04
recognizing that we need healing and
7:07
transformation second we need to feed
7:09
our faith through prayer reading the
7:11
word and participating in sacramental
7:13
life third we must actively seek ways to
7:16
be compassionate and forgiving imitating
7:19
the example of Jesus the image of the
7:21
cured leper offers us a final lesson
7:24
after being purified he cannot contain
7:27
his joy and proclaims the goodness of
7:29
Jesus Jesus despite being instructed to
7:31
remain silent when we experience God's
7:34
grace in our lives we are called to
7:37
share it our testimony can be the means
7:39
by which others come to Christ so
7:42
brothers and sisters as we reflect on
7:44
these readings may we hear God's voice
7:47
and respond with Open Hearts may we
7:50
approach Jesus like the leper trusting
7:52
in his power and mercy and may we be
7:55
agents of his compassion in the world
7:58
touching the lives of those who need it
8:00
most may the Lord help us to live with
8:02
malleable Hearts full of faith hope and
8:15
amen St Michael the Archangel defend Us
8:18
in battle be our protection against the
8:21
wickedness and snares of the devil may
8:24
God rebuke him we humbly pray and do
8:27
thou o Prince of the heaven H host by
8:30
the power of God cast into hell Satan
8:34
and all the evil spirits who prowl
8:36
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
