Laws, Old and New
Feb. 11: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
People sometimes believe there’s an “Old Testament God” and a “New Testament God,” due to readings like we have today.
But what they’re mistaking for contradiction in God’s behavior is actually just a development in humanity’s relationship to God.
God gave Moses three types of laws: moral, ceremonial, and judicial. The moral law apply in all times, everywhere; the ceremonial laws relate to the Temple; and the judicial laws are for civil society (i.e. ancient Israel). Since the Temple doesn’t exist anymore and we don’t live in ancient Israel, those don’t really apply anymore.
Reading I
Lv 13:1-2, 44-46
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests among his descendants. If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore on his head.
“The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”
Some Old Testament laws1 seem harsh to modern readers. But think about how dangerous a communicable disease would be to a small, nomadic society. It could spread quickly and endanger everyone. The logical thing would be to simply kill the infected, as many ancient cultures would.
But God told His people to spare these poor victims, and have pity on them. Living on the outskirts of society was surely hard, but many still showed sympathy towards them (to the degree possible at the time).
The diseases in question weren’t always what we currently call “leprosy.” The law applied to many skin diseases, which may or may not clear up on their own. Therefore, God allowed for a method of re-entering society, once they demonstrated they were safe.
Modern technology renders these rules obsolete, but it doesn’t make them irrational or immoral for the ancient Israelites.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
It’s easy to forget about God, until things go wrong. When faced with a terrible calamity, most people either turn towards God, or turn completely away.
The former is, of course, the better plan. As the Psalmist does here, a tragedy is a good time to reflect on what choices we made to get us here. Then, we can confess to God all that we did wrong, and pray for guidance to follow God’s will better. The good news is, that’s one prayer God will always answer.
Reading II
1 Cor 10:31—11:1
Brothers and sisters, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
This is a summary of a longer passage regarding dietary restrictions, and how eating the meat sacrificed to pagan gods might lead to scandal. Paul makes it a general rule—focus on God and representing Him on Earth. Don’t do anything that might lead others astray, or turn off people who could be considering joining the Church.
Alleluia
Lk 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst,
God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus had just healed the son of a widowed mother, in a way that mirrors Elijah raising another widow’s son from the dead. This Alleluia is the crowd’s response natural response, upon recognizing the parallel.
Gospel
Mk 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Jesus has been performing miracles, but he hasn’t yet fulfilled the law. It’s not until He’s on the cross that He declares, “It is finished.”2 So, the ceremonial laws still apply, and Jesus sends this man to the priests to follow the law.
Not only is the man cured, but he can actually rejoin society! See friends he’s missed, reunite with his family, participate in public worship.
That last thing is what gets Jesus into more trouble. The man couldn’t contain himself; he had to tell everyone about the miracle! Now Jesus can’t go anywhere without being mobbed by people. He probably knew that’s what would happen, but did that stop Him from having pity on the man? No, of course not.
This would be a ceremonial law, as the cleansing isn’t actually meant to literally cure leprosy.