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Yesterday's Gospel reading for Daily Mass was the story of Jesus healing a leper in Luke 5:12-16. Leviticus chapter 13 gives background from the Mosaic Law on the treatment of leprosy. There are some important points to note in this story. Like sin, leprosy is deeper than the skin (Leviticus 13:3). Like sin, leprosy spreads (Leviticus 13:6-8) and defiles (Leviticus 13:44-45). Like sin, infection by leprosy requires isolation lest the disease spreads to others (Leviticus 13:46). Just as sin will be burned in the fires of hell on the Final Judgment, so must clothing contaminated with leprosy be burn by fire (Leviticus 13:53). Just as mortal sin makes one spritually dead, so is a person regarded who is infected by leprosy (Numbers 12:12). In spite of all these things, only Jesus (God’s only begotten Son) could touch the leper and heal him without getting infected. In the same way, only Jesus can touch our sinful souls and heal us of the impact of mortal sin without Himself becoming contaminated by sin. But Jesus still required the man healed by leprosy to obey the Law and show himself to the priest, making an offering for his cleansing. In the same fashion we who are delivered from the effects of mortal sin by having made a good Confession to a priest (see the parallel?) must likewise now put our faith into action, make a firm commitment to amend our lives and obey the Ten Commandments (Jesus said He did not come to abolish the Law but fulfill it), and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Eucharistia in Greek and Latin) in both word and deed. By the way, for all you people afraid of getting contaminated by doing good to a person sick with COVID-19, Jesus touched the leper. And for all you people who trivialize COVID-19, Jesus told the healed man to obey the Law of Moses, which meant a mandatory seven day quarentine after being healed. Read Leviticus 13 if you disbelieve me.