In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers how the essence of our faith is contained not in objects or rituals, but in the person of Jesus, who reaches out in love to those in need.
Readings for Thursday in the first week of Ordinary Time: 1 Samuel 4.1-11; Psalm 44.10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Mark 1.40-45. Text of readings can be found here.
Do you know where the origin of the phrase “touch wood” comes from? According to one theory, it originates from the middle ages, when people would often carry around a supposed relic of the True Cross. In times of peril, or when needing good luck, they would reach into their pocket and touch the wood. The phrase entered into everyday parlance, and has survived even when the custom of carrying the wood ceased.
In our first reading today, both the Philistines and the Israelites viewed the Ark of the Covenant as some sort of good luck charm for Israel. This was the chest which contained the tablets upon which God had written the Ten Commandments for Moses about 200 years before. Both sides believed that the very presence of the Ark on the battlefield would ensure victory for Israel. The outcome of the battle, however, was about something much deeper. It was about the corruption and lack of faith at the heart of Israel, represented especially by the behaviour of the two sons of Eli the priest.
The external rituals and customs of faith are something that Jesus doesn’t allow to stand in the way of doing good in our Gospel reading. A faithful Jew would normally have avoided physical contact with a leper, since it would have made him unclean according to the law. And yet Jesus does precisely this in order to bring healing to the man who needs it. Our traditions and rituals are important, but they are not the beginning and ending of faith. This, rather, is to be found in a personal encounter with God made flesh, Jesus Christ, the one who crosses traditional boundaries. Strengthened by our encounter with him in this and every mass, may we have the courage to reach out in faith and love to the untouchables of our own day.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig & St Samson at 10am.
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