Leviticus 12-13: A Recurrent Theme?

Leviticus 12 and 13 really start to delve deeper into the issue of cleanness/uncleanness. Leviticus 13 especially drives the point home concerning the issue of leprosy. And I thought it appropriate to stop briefly to reflect on the significant role that this particular disease plays in Sacred Scripture.

Leprosy is mentioned several times in both the Old and New Testaments. What I've come to learn is that it is not by accident that this disease figures prominently in the Word. Of course there are literal reasons, the main one being that leprosy was a reality of life in that part of the world at that time in history. It being a reality, a harsh one at that, it needed to be addressed in the Law, thus the Levitical ordinances concerning how to deal with a leper. But it is dealt with in an entirely different manner in the New Testament, wherein it is typically mentioned in regard to healing and repentance. That is because leprosy in Scripture was given as a sign of the damage caused by sin. Sin does to our soul what leprosy does to our body. Leprosy is symbolic of sin, and once viewed this way, its references in Scripture take on a whole new, vastly more significant meaning. This is not to be misunderstood to mean that particular lepers in Scripture were guilty of particular sins. A leper does not signify guilt of a particular sin, but leprosy signifies sin in general. This is why leprosy is always mentioned along with the need for lepers to see a priest. And also why Christ was such a healer of leprosy, as He is the reason our sins are forgiven.

(I'd also like to begin mentioning, every so often, certain saints on their feast days. Today is January 22, the feast of Saint Vincent of Saragossa. This incredible soldier of Christ was martyred in about the year 300. He was imprisoned and tortured because he was a Christian, and was told he would be released only if he would cast Scripture into the fire. He refused and was thus killed. It's important to acknowledge those men and women who died defending the Word of God. I sit comfortably in my home reading from the Bible without fear of punishment because of those saints who died defending God and His Word! Today I pay homage to Saint Vincent.)