Day 71: He shall Declare Himself Unclean
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
This passage from Leviticus in light of today’s Gospel [Mark 1:40-45] shows the beauty and fulfillment between the Old and New Covenants. This passage gives us the context for the Gospel, laying out the law. If someone has leprosy they show themselves to the priests, rend their garments, declare themselves unclean, and live apart. In the Gospel, we see Jesus’s priesthood because He approaches the leper and declares him clean. Jesus could not stay in a town so He remained outside the cities; that is where the lepers lived.
How many of us are spiritual lepers? We show ourselves to the priests but we still declare ourselves unclean? Scrupulosity is a small cross made of heavy wood. One may appear to not be carrying a big and heavy cross, but they know the weight and falter. But even our blessed Lord fell three times, and He wants to carry your cross with you and bear your burdens.
“Keep your eyes on the crucifix; for Jesus without the cross is a man without a mission, and the cross without Jesus is a burden without a reliever.”
Blessed Fulton Sheen
This is the message of hope. Hope is not just positive thinking about the future. Corrine Puzio said that hope is trusting that God will fulfill His promises. Jesus says to the soul, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” (Mt 11:30). He promises rest to the heavy laden soul (see Mt 11:28-30). He is the reliever. He will remove your heavy cross. Though no one else may know the weight of it, He knows it. Exchanging a glance that expresses love and understanding, He shoulders it with you.
It is true that Christ never promised our lives to be easy, but He does not want us to abuse ourselves and obsess over our transgressions. He does not want you to sin because it breaks the Law but because it hurts you.
The Lord has declared you clean. He has restored you. No longer do you have to wear a rendered garment and live in isolation. He has given you a wedding garment, calls you to live in the communion of love which is the Holy Trinity, and in union with His body, the Church, which continues His mission on Earth as it is in Heaven. Just as Jesus healed the leper with body, Jesus still wants to heal us with His body.
Prayer: Lord, tell me who I am so that I may know who I am and know that I am good