Tag Archives: scripture

Role Reversal: Jesus and the Leper

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An interesting thought occurred to me as I listened to today’s scripture readings at mass. I’m speaking specifically of the Old Testament and Gospel readings. Here they are.

“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests…[If] he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head. The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp.'” – Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46

“And a leper came to [Jesus] beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, ‘If you will, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.’ But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.”

Today, I noticed an interesting contrast in these verses that I’d never noticed before. Hearing the passage from Leviticus, we picture a leprous man submitting himself to a priest. The priest declares the man unclean, thus sentencing him to a life outside of common society in order to prevent the spread of his contagion. Whereas in the gospel a leper approaches the Great High Priest, Jesus, who declares him clean and sends him back into common society. Once there, he tells of the good news of Jesus’ healing power, and that news spreads like a contagion. As a result, Jesus is unable to openly enter towns and remains in the country. In effect, Jesus takes the place of the leper.

I’m not entirely sure what to make of that, but I found it fascinating and wanted to share it. Anyone else have some light to shed on this matter?

Graduates and Young Professionals Bible Study

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Tonight begins another semester of bible studies at the Ryan
Catholic Newman Center (The Oratory). This semester we’re discussing Scripture’s
relationship to Liturgy. We’ll discover how they’re made for each other. Texts (aside
from the Bible, of course) will include the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The
Lamb’s Supper” by Scott Hahn, “On Being Catholic” by Thomas Howard,
“Why Do Catholics Do That” by Kevin Johnson, and “Teaching Truth
by Signs and Ceremonies” by Rev. James Meagher.

The bible study group for graduates and young professionals will be held on Tuesdays
at 6PM, starting tonight. Our first two discussions will focus on paragraphs 1066
to 1209 of the Catholic Catechism (“The Paschal Mystery in the Age of the Church”
and “The Sacramental Celebration”) . If you’re in the Pittsburgh area,
please consider joining us. 🙂

Scripture in Mass

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I’ll soon be leading a bible study that focuses on Scripture and the Mass (we’re
tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays at 6PM at the Oratory, in case you might want
to attend.). I’m wondering if anyone could provide or point me to text of the Mass
annotated with references to Scripture. For instance, the greeting, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”, is from 2 Corinthians 13:14. I’m looking for a version of the order of mass that has something like that footnoted. Does anyone know of such an annotated text?

Religious Porn Redux

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This sleaze reminds me of Alberto Magliozzi’s tasteless calendar and Danuta Nieznalska’s blasphemous "art". (Fedora Tip: Pyromaniac)

"A German Protestant youth group has put together a 2006 calendar illustrated with erotic scenes from the Bible."

"The 12 re-enacted passages feature a bare-breasted Delilah cutting Samson’s hair and a nude Eve offering an apple."

"The Nuremberg-based group said they wanted to represent the Bible in a way that would entice young people. "

 

The Ark of the New Covenant

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I have often heard Mary spoken of as the ark of the New Covenant. Tonight at RCIA, I learned of a parallel between Mary and the original ark that I had not heard before.

"And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, ‘How can the ark of the LORD come to me?’…And David danced before the LORD with all his might;" – 2 Samuel 6:9,14a

"And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. " – Luke 1:43-44

Interesting, ain’t it? Of course, the entire notion of the Immaculate Conception doesn’t (and couldn’t) hang on these verses, but I think they’re interesting nonetheless.