• "Leprosy, a Metaphor for Sin"
• Sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
• August 28, 2005
• The Reverend David A. Brounstein

From the earliest Biblical writings, a diagnosis of leprosy resulted in physical excommunication from the community of Israel. Leprosy was believed to be highly contagious. Quarantine of those afflicted would thus minimize the risk of disease potentially infecting others.

The physical examination and determination would be made by a priest acting as a public health official. The Old Testament viewed leprosy as a physical, not a moral, affliction. Those so identified were required (Leviticus 13:45-46) to wear torn clothes, to wear no head covering, to cover their mouths at all times, and to cry out "Unclean! Unclean!" when anyone came near them. They were also required to dwell alone outside the camp or city. In medieval times, it was common practice for a priest to read the burial service over lepers before they were expelled from a city.

The Old Testament law contains specific guidelines for re-admitting cured lepers into normal society. However, the Scriptures never imply that leprosy can be cured by non-miraculous means. This degenerative disease caused deformity and a loss of physical sensation in the nerve endings.

Over time, leprosy became a metaphor for sin. Sin also has a way of slowly deforming and numbing us until we have no perception at all that anything is amiss. At the time of Jesus, leprosy was perceived as symbolizing moral corruption rather than just physical affliction. Leprosy was commonly understood to be an outward and visible sign representing an inward, spiritual condition. First century laws had also apparently been loosened out of compassion, permitting lepers to live together rather than in isolation.

In our gospel lesson from St. Luke (17:11-19) this morning, we find Jesus entering an unnamed village in the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Meeting him on the outskirts of the city was a community of lepers. Rather than crying out that they were unclean, the lepers cried out instead for Jesus to have mercy upon them. Jesus responds by telling them to present themselves for examination by the priests. Their healing occurred as they went, responding in obedience to the word of Jesus.

Most commentators read into the text that this group of ten lepers was comprised of one Samaritan and nine Jews, as only one Samaritan returned to give thanks to Jesus and to glorify God for his healing. We do not know who the other nine were, only that they did not return to Jesus giving thanks and glorifying God. Scripture tells us that, normally, (John 4:9) the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. If this group of lepers was indeed comprised of Jews and Samaritans, it becomes instructive as to how a shared disease serves to break down barriers between people. Sickness refocuses one's worldview, dividing who is sick from who is well, rather than dwelling on divisive issues of faith, gender, or national origin.

The Church from its inception has embraced this same worldview. It has taught that all humanity has been infected with original sin from the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Expulsion from the Garden placed both Adam and Eve alone outside the camp, no differently than if they had been afflicted with leprosy.

Sin is indeed an apt metaphor for leprosy as it serves to separate us from a holy and righteous God. Like those afflicted with leprosy, we too, are unable to cleanse ourselves of the inherited sin of Adam through our own efforts. A miraculous means has been provided for us to be cleansed.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures consistently teach us that God initiates and unilaterally performs each and every covenant and promise. God himself provides a means for cleansing humanity from all their sins so that their relationship with him might be restored.

The Cross is the ultimate reflection of that love. St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians (5:21) that God "hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The miraculous cure for our sin, our leprosy, has been graciously provided for us. As with all covenants initiated by God, we are called to do but one thing. That is, to respond with faith and obedience to his word in all areas of our lives.

In our gospel lesson, we note that all ten lepers were healed as they responded in obedience to the command of Jesus. These were but the beginning steps. As Christians we have believed, and by obedience we have been baptized, into this faith and his church. We have received (BCP p.274) that which by nature we cannot have" - our miraculous cleansing from the leprosy of sin.

As with the baptisms of Ryan and Amanda last week, we were again reminded that baptism is but the beginning of the new life we have in Christ. Like the Samaritan in our gospel lesson this morning, we are called to return and give thanks to Jesus and to glorify God for that which he has done for us.

Let us remember that our catechism provides the framework for the living out of our Christian life in faithful obedience. We are called (BCP p.291) "to follow Christ, to worship God every Sunday in his Church; and to work and pray and give for the spread of his kingdom."