B: 6th in OrdTime (14 Feb 2021) - WHETHER IT IS CLEAN OR UNCLEAN (Lev 13:1-2, 44-46)

The entire chapter 13 of the book of Leviticus talks about the phenomenon of skin diseases during the early years of the Israelites’ freedom from the Egyptians. What is peculiar in this period is that the role of inspecting (v. 3), quarantining (vv. 4-5), and freeing the sick (v. 6) was given to the Aaronic priests (v. 2). The end of this chapter summarizes their special function: “This is the instruction for a fungal infection on a garment of wool or linen, or on a warp or woof, or on any leather article, to determine whether it is clean or unclean” (v. 59).

This arrangement is understandable since, during that time, the prevailing mentality was all physical sufferings and misfortunes were forms of divine punishment on account of a person’s (or his/her ancestor’s) evil deeds in the past. With this direct connection of the body and the spirit, priests would definitely have a say on all illnesses: those whom they declare leprous were indeed sinners in the eyes of God, and those whom they proclaim clean were righteous in turn. While such a way of thinking is incorrect in today’s standards, it was propagated at that time given that there was no accurate knowledge on the nature and origin of human diseases.

Those declared inflicted with leprosy, meanwhile, were actually not medically cured since priests were untrained for such a task. The remedy that was prescribed by the priests was to segregate them from the general society. Lepers were to live outside the camps (v. 46), forbidden from mixing with the public. To prevent an accidental spread of the epidemic, they were obliged to wear ragged clothes and to shout “Unclean!” when people get near their place (v. 45). This measure was enforced to warn passersby, keeping them from being contaminated.

While such a setup helped preserve the cleanliness and safety of the society, it, nonetheless, marginalized the sick. Instead of being treated of their diseases and given special medical care, they were left on their own to survive and to discover means on how to be cured without the intervention of the healthy and the able. Thus, while the majority would be preserved from harm, the minority were forgotten, ignored, and disregarded. Even worse was the reality that the religious and societal leaders, who were supposed to advocate their welfare, were the ones spearheading the implementation of such an alienating societal order.

True enough, the authority to decide what is best for the society is given on leaders. While they normally follow the letters of the laws in making their value judgments, they should also be conscientious and courageous enough to challenge existing regulations on whether they still benefit the welfare of everybody and protect the rights of the oppressed. True leaders should not only focus on their roles as judges; they should also be pastors and advocates of the poor.

In our present time when several decisions concerning the pandemic are left on the leaders of our society—viz., what to do with the economic crisis brought forth by the pandemic, when will restrictions of mobility be lifted, which COVID-patients are to be treated, who will receive first the vaccine, etc.—all should learn to prioritize the welfare of the feeble, the elderly, the suffering, and the have-nots. Only then can we be truly clean both outwardly and internally.

- Rex Fortes, CM