Social Lepers

The readings for Sunday, February 15 tell stories of lepers being healed. The prophet Elisha healed Naaman, a five star general in the army of a rival nation. We also hear the story of Jesus healing an unnamed man of leprosy. We can’t be certain about what types of diseases are considered to be “leprosy” in these passages. Naaman was a prominent leader, having contact with many people, including his king, so it is unlikely he was contagious. It is not exactly clear why the Law of Moses viewed lepers as unclean. It is possible they were viewed as unclean because they were not “whole” or “all one thing;” portions of their skin were healthy, portions were not. But if a leper’s skin turned all white and there were no signs of infection or irritation they were to be considered clean because they were now wholly white. Remember, Leviticus (where these regulations regarding leprosy are found) also forbids garments made of more than one kind of fabric (no polyester blends!) and forbids the eating of shell fish because these creatures live in the sea but do not have scales or fins like a proper fish “should;” they are part fish because they live in the water, but they are also part something else because they do not have scales and fins. Because things like mixed-fiber garments and shell fish are not reckoned to be wholly one thing they are not considered holy and are therefore unclean.

It seems that while the lepers in these stories would have experienced discomfort they were not facing a life-threatening disease. The most difficult consequence of their disease would have been the social consequences; they were social lepers. While Naaman was a public figure, surely his very visible disease made people apprehensive. And the Jewish leper healed by Jesus was forbidden to be an active part of the community, both in everyday interactions and by being forbidden to participate in worship because he was reckoned unclean. These healings are not just about the healing of the body, but the restoring of right relationships between the (former) leper and other people and the (former) leper and God. Once healed of leprosy people regain their standing before God and before the human community.

The readings below help prepare us for Sunday by giving us an understanding how Israel understood leprosy and how lepers were to be treated. What are the differences between the stories of Naaman and the unnamed leper Jesus healed? Who are today’s lepers and what is it that puts them on the margins? How do we welcome those who perceive themselves as being marginal? In Exodus the priest performs a ritual that demonstrates to both the leper and to the community that the (former) leper has been restored to full and right relationship to God and to the community. Do we have any such rituals?

Thursday 2/12
Leviticus 13:1-17
Hebrews 12:7-13

Friday 2/13
Leviticus 14:1-20
Acts 19:11-20

Saturday 2/14
Leviticus 14:21-32
Matthew 26:6-13