1 Sam 4:1-11 / Mark 1:40-45
When we want to put something to the test, it usually means that we want to see how well it works even under extreme and demanding conditions.
From there we can gauge how good it is and under what conditions it works well and under what conditions it does not.
We will also be able to judge whether the product description matches the performance and whether it meets up to our expectations.
In the 1st reading, when the Israelite army went to take the ark of the Lord of hosts, they had their expectations.
Since the ark was the presence of God, they had expected God to fight for them and grant them victory.
In a way, the Israelites were putting the Lord God of hosts to the test. It was something they should not have done as it was just their expectation and it was not the Lord's intention.
Not only were the Israelite army terribly defeated, the ark of God was also captured by the enemy. It was a shameful and terrible military defeat as well as a religious defeat.
The leper in the gospel may sound rather demanding when he said to Jesus, "If you want to, you can cure me."
But the leper was not putting Jesus to the test, nor did he had a demanding expectation. Rather he was in dire desperation.
In curing the leper, Jesus wants us to know He will help us in our time of need and desperation.
We don't have to put Jesus to the test. But in Him may we find peace and rest.