The unclean status of a leper was so public that he/she was ostracized from society. People would not touch them since they were unclean. Lepers were left to live a very lonely life as they were moved outside the camp. Since no employer would hire a leper, most of them were left to beg to survive. Leprosy took away homes, social life, jobs, even dignity.
Jesus paid attention to the leper and even touched him to make him clean. Then, he asks him to go to the priest to be pronounced officially clean. One of the cleansing rituals for lepers used two birds. One was to be killed. The other was to be dipped in the blood of the other and set free. The one declared clean had to be sprinkled with that blood.
Leprosy represents sin in my life. My cleansing and my freedom is possible by the blood of Jesus Christ. I have been sprinkled with his blood to be able to spread my wings and fly, soaring the skies above for the glory of God. I can't forget that my ability to fly freely was purchased with blood - a life. I can't forget that my freedom was given to help others become free. Like Jesus, I must pay attention to the cry of those in bondage. I must be willing to touch their lives as a member of the body of Christ so that they can be set free and many times recover what sin took away from them.
God Almighty, thank you for Jesus Christ your Son, who came to give his blood to sprinkle my soul and declare me clean of my sin. May your love and compassion fill me to pay attention to those in bondage and minister to them. May I seek their freedom as I enjoy the abundant life you have granted me.
