Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The disease identified as leprosy in the Bible was a terrible affliction. In addition to whatever physical suffering it caused directly, the indirect effects of the need to control the spread of this contagious disease amongst the population were considerable. The book of Leviticus prescribes that lepers must isolate themselves from their community, who were not allowed to worship nor socialize with them. They were even required to warn others loudly not to come near them. Only examination by a priest to verify that they no longer had the disease could ritually remove the lepers’ uncleanness and allow them to reintegrate with their community.
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