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Gospel Reflection – January 15, 2026
The Anger and Compassion of Jesus
The Israelites thought that the presence of the Ark of the Covenant would guarantee them victory over the Philistines. When they were defeated, they must have thought God was punishing them. In both cases, we pass the responsibility to God: we want Him to solve our problems (win our battles), and we blame Him for our misfortunes.
While it is true that, in the end, everything depends on God, we must not forget that it was His will to give us freedom (which makes us images of Him). He gave us the world as the space to use that freedom (this is what theologians wisely call “secondary causes”). In other words, this world and this life are the space for our responsibility. God’s will is a will for good and for life; we cannot attribute the bad things that happen to us to Him. That damages the true image of God—the image Jesus transmits to us of a Father who cares for His children. And Jesus, the Son of God, is like His Father; He goes through our world doing good. We see this today in the healing of the leper, inspired by the pity Jesus felt for him.
But by curing our leprosy and purifying us from our sins, Jesus also teaches us who God actually is, correcting the warped image we have of Him. Jesus is offended when we think God sends us misfortunes in the form of leprosy or military defeats.
In fact, the oldest manuscripts of this text do not say that Jesus “felt pity,” but that He “became angry.” Why? Because in the leper’s request, there was an underlying idea that his leprosy was a punishment from God for some impurity, asking Jesus to clean it away. Jesus, angry at this image of a punishing God—but at the same time feeling pity for the sick man and his false idea of God—touched him. He did this to tell him that the leprosy didn’t transmit impurity; rather, the hand touching him transmitted grace and salvation.
Then, with severity, He sends him to make the offering to the priest “as proof”—that is, as a testimony against them. Because that punishing image of God is often what is taught by those who consider themselves experts in the things of God.
Today’s Gospel is a tough warning for religious leaders. We can (and do) sometimes teach an image of God that is not the one Jesus transmits. The God and Father of Jesus Christ is neither a magic charm for our problems nor a judge punishing our sins. He is the Father who calls us to respond with freedom and responsibility, through works of love, to the unconditional love He has fully given us in His Son.