"Cleanse the Leper..."

This post is a reflection on the second of the instructions from the rabbi Jesus to the disciples about what they were to do. It seems a bit dated for today, as leprosy (or Hansen's disease) is an infection that can be dealt with through modern antibiotics. What might the rabbi have been referring to then - and how does it play a role 2000 years later in our lack of health, wellness and wholeness?

If we look literally at the disease of leprosy, we now know that it is not very infectious, that it takes a long time to manifest itelf (like most Mycobacterium infections), and that with proper treatment and early detection the disease can be eradicated and the person can live a "normal" life. Now, this wasn't true 2000 years ago in first century Palestine - where those with leprosy ("lepers") were shunned and were placed apart from the general population. Jewish law had an elaborate process for declaring persons "clean" and thus allowed back into society. Since it wasn't until the late 1800's that the cause of leprosy was discovered - once a person contracted the disease and manifested the lesions and disfigurement that characterize the disorder, they were ostracized.

Did Jesus literally mean for the disciples to miraculously cure all persons with leprosy, or did He mean something else? The social stigma of leprosy is often much worse than the infection or any physical symptoms. Even today in parts of the world, persons are shunned long after the infection is cured and they can no longer cause the disease to be transmitted to others. Persons are kept from every day life and relationships - they are as isolated (more so) than if they were incarcerated in a colony. This is true of those with HIV (and full blown AIDS), alternative lifestyles, different ethnicities, felons, etc. The words "cleanse the leper" refer to our offering sanctuary and relationship to all those ostracized and isolated by the wisdom of the world.

So, how do we go about this? One is through educating ourselves about the risk; and becoming advocates for those who society isolates. The second is to love our neighbors as ourselves and to model that behavior to others. By doing these things, we become true disciples and create a world of welcome instead of a world of barriers.

During this season of Advent, season of light, and all other seasonal spiritual metaphor, let us truly open our hearts to those who are alienated, isolated, "unclean", and let the light of Jehovah shine into their lives and ours.

Peace and joy,
Dan