I want to. Be healed. Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.

Keep in mind the setting of Mark’s gospel: This world is enemy-occupied territory. An evil power has made itself, for the present, the prince of this world. The world as a whole is the house of the strong one, Satan’s territory. In Mark’s worldview a disease such as leprosy is no less a mark of the rule of Satan than overt demonic possession. In healing a leper Jesus is heralding the coming of God’s rule. A regime change is at hand.