Links for today’s readings:
Read: Leviticus 15 Listen: (4:59) Read: Acts 11 Listen: (3:52)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Read: Leviticus 16 Listen: (5:36) Read: Acts 12 Listen: (3:49)
Read: Leviticus 17 Listen: (2:39) Read: Acts 13 Listen: (7:36)
Scripture Focus: Leviticus 15.26
31 “You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.”
Mark 5.25-34
27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Reflection: Reaching Untouchables
By John Tillman
The “discharges” in Leviticus 15 include those experienced regularly by healthy males and females, and chronic ones caused by illnesses or disorders. Normal conditions only required washing with water. Chronic ones required a small, inexpensive sacrifice.
We struggle to understand these laws of separation between clean and unclean. They can seem to us like punishment for life’s problems. Is God kicking people when they are down?
While not fully understanding, we should remember that the separation was not intended to be punitive, permanent, or shameful. It protected public health and provided rest for sufferers with chronic conditions. Even today we’d prefer parents not bring sick children to church nurseries and appreciate sick co-workers using sick days to stay home. Runny noses spread.
Also, the sacrifices were intended to celebrate a chronic condition’s end, not punish a sufferer for having it. These would have been joyful moments, like cancer patients ringing bells at the end of treatment.
However, these intentions do not mean that stigmas did not develop, that all separations were restful, that healing was easily available, or that every patient rang a bell. The prophets knew this. Jesus knew this. The woman who touched his robe in Mark 5 knew this.
There is a great distance between the high ideals of justice or righteousness and the writing of a law. Likewise, there is a great difference between a written law’s intent and the law’s implementation, interpretation, or enforcement. Gaps open at each stage, into which corruption, errors, or abuse may insert themselves.
Jesus condemned the religious leaders’ implementation, interpretation, and enforcement of the law. Even on the way to heal a righteous man’s dying child, Jesus paused at the “unclean” woman’s touch. He didn’t stop to shame her but to celebrate her faith and healing.
She is often called the “woman with an issue of blood,” yet might be more accurately named the “woman with an issue of faith.” Her faith made her whole. Why should we name her by her malady rather than her miracle? Why should we allow the same to be done to others or to ourselves?
If Jesus walked your city streets or mine, he would love and heal the “untouchables.” Be a priest of Jesus in your city. Whoever you think of as untouchable, help them in the name of Jesus. And if that untouchable person is you, reach out. Jesus is there.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
I have said to the Lord, “You are my God; listen, O Lord, to my supplication. — Psalm 140.6
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: Two Goats and Jesus
Jesus’ death on the cross…purifies our approach to God so we can enter his presence without fear…and be free from the bondage of evil.
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