Reach out and touch others with God's Love!
Unclean, Unclean! Do Not Touch Me!
“Unclean, unclean!” was a cry of warning—not primarily fear of contagion. “Do not touch me—or you will be contaminated! You will be ritually impure, unable to take part in Israel’s community worship!
It was not simply a code of fear of infection by disease, but a case of being cut off from God and the community of his people. “He (the leper) shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” (Ps 32:1-2)
The Hebrews tended to identify sin and sickness in such a way that sin and suffering were considered a sign of one’s sinfulness, so avoid the sick, avoid the sinner! The excommunication of the leper from the community becomes a striking symbol of the effects of sin—separation, division, disunity, loneliness, despair, heart break. Where there is disunity and separation, there must be sin.
Excommunication [meant to be] unloved, unaccepted, unwanted. This was the bitterest wound of all! It must have been a despairing lot indeed. What psychological wounds it must have inflicted.
“Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.” (Mk 1:41, Mt 8:3) God came among us and touched us to show we are acceptable, his sons and daughters in communion with Him. [He] ate and drank with us.
The Lord’s touch [is a] sign of God’s presence. The Lord touches us in the Eucharis; He is present to unite us in love. ”Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1)
“By this we know we have passed from death to life, by our loving presence and touch of one another.” (1 John 3:14) To love is to touch, to be present to, to be attentive, to draw to one self.
“God has shown me that I should not call any man common.” (Acts 10:28) “Call no man unclean!” (Acts 10:15) [This was] Peter’s vision. No more untouchables! No more segregation! No more shutting people out of heaven by your superstitions and taboos. No more divisions! Wherever there is separation and disunity there is sin. Jesus [tells us] the only uncleanness is guilt: sin. What comes out of the heart! Reach out and touch others in love!
Unclean, Unclean! Do Not Touch Me!
“Unclean, unclean!” was a cry of warning—not primarily fear of contagion. “Do not touch me—or you will be contaminated! You will be ritually impure, unable to take part in Israel’s community worship!
It was not simply a code of fear of infection by disease, but a case of being cut off from God and the community of his people. “He (the leper) shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” (Ps 32:1-2)
The Hebrews tended to identify sin and sickness in such a way that sin and suffering were considered a sign of one’s sinfulness, so avoid the sick, avoid the sinner! The excommunication of the leper from the community becomes a striking symbol of the effects of sin—separation, division, disunity, loneliness, despair, heart break. Where there is disunity and separation, there must be sin.
Excommunication [meant to be] unloved, unaccepted, unwanted. This was the bitterest wound of all! It must have been a despairing lot indeed. What psychological wounds it must have inflicted.
“Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.” (Mk 1:41, Mt 8:3) God came among us and touched us to show we are acceptable, his sons and daughters in communion with Him. [He] ate and drank with us.
The Lord’s touch [is a] sign of God’s presence. The Lord touches us in the Eucharis; He is present to unite us in love. ”Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1)
“By this we know we have passed from death to life, by our loving presence and touch of one another.” (1 John 3:14) To love is to touch, to be present to, to be attentive, to draw to one self.
“God has shown me that I should not call any man common.” (Acts 10:28) “Call no man unclean!” (Acts 10:15) [This was] Peter’s vision. No more untouchables! No more segregation! No more shutting people out of heaven by your superstitions and taboos. No more divisions! Wherever there is separation and disunity there is sin. Jesus [tells us] the only uncleanness is guilt: sin. What comes out of the heart! Reach out and touch others in love!
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