For lepers who can’t change their spots

DAILY BYTE

In the bible, 'leprosy' was an umbrella term that was used to refer to a whole host of skin infections and diseases. It was a dreaded condition because the social consequences that it carried were severe. Leviticus 13 -14 deals with the regulations regarding leprosy, and the consequences of contracting the disease:

“The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be dishevelled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46)

The bottom line was that leprosy carried with it a sentence of alienation and isolation. In a society that was far more communal in its orientation than what our modern Western society is, this was a living-death sentence. Lepers were outcasts, unable to interact with the rest of society, unable to be economically productive and so unable to provide for themselves, forced to eke out an existence like that of scavenging dogs living on the fringes and outskirts of society.

What is more, because of their 'uncleanness' lepers were barred from worship. Encountering God through any of the recognised religious structures of the day was an impossibility. They were regarded as cursed by God.

The severe socio-religious stigma attached to leprosy is an essential dimension of a faithful interpretation of the encounter between Jesus and the man with leprosy in Mark 1:40-45. For this is far more than a common-old-garden healing of someone who was sick. Jesus' response signifies far more than his compassion towards someone in need. A closer reading reveals that Jesus is in fact attacking the religious system, the so-called 'purity code', that could isolate people within society, and attempt to alienate them from God.

The religious regulations pertaining to leprosy were built on two essential convictions. Firstly, the disease was communicable. That is to say, its effect (ritually speaking) could be handed on simply by touching. That is why lepers were separated from the rest of society as the 'untouchables'. Secondly, it was the priest who was responsible for determining the leprous status of a person.

Jesus challenges both of these convictions. He touches the man, and he says, "Be clean!" He subverts the religious system that could pronounce a person untouchable and unfit for the presence of God.

According to most English versions he then issues the man a strong warning not to tell anyone, but to fulfil the ritual requirements for cleansing as a testimony to the priests. This is actually a fairly feeble translation, as the Greek is much stronger. The word rendered 'strong warning' actually has the sense to 'snort with indignation or rage'. This suggests that Jesus, angered by the legalistic lovelessness of the religious system and its purity code, recognises that it is not the man's testimony of what has happened to him, but the ritual fulfilment of the religious requirements, that will convince the priests and change his status in their eyes.

But then a glorious twist happens. The man disregards the correct procedure as he bypasses the priests and their ritual requirements. Instead, he boldly goes to the very people and places from which he had been barred, no longer shouting out "Unclean! Unclean!" But proclaiming freely the news, the good news of what Jesus had done for him. The touch and word of cleansing that came from Jesus had liberated him from the oppressive religious system of which he had been a victim, and ushered him into the glorious freedom of life in God's Kingdom.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord, the Scriptures declare that NOTHING can separate us from your love. Thank you that there is no condition of ours that makes us untouchable to you. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Mark 1:40

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leprous man.