Sometimes when we find it difficult to deal with any misfortune, whether the one that befell us and the ones we are responsible in creating, we often seek an escape by making the entire environment around us toxic. We infect the people around us with the same anger, trauma, sorrow, pain, hate, and frustration that we carry within. The regulation in Leviticus concerning the lepers is aimed at preserving the health of the community. The community cannot sink because of the infection of one or few. This is the history of isolation method in public health like we saw with the Ebola and COVID pandemic. But it goes beyond physical or psychological health issues to the spiritual status of our souls. We cannot allow our sins to create disorder in the society. While it is true that sins have social dimensions, it is important to become conscious of how our act of offending God can destroy the society bit by bit.

On the other hand, just as our sins are capable of impacting negatively on the community, our goodness, our joy, love and happiness can brighten the entire universe. This is why the message of Christ is called the Gospel, the Good News, the Bonne Nouvelle, which is like a light that dispels darkness both in our souls and in our society. No one we truly receives the love, healing, light and grace of Christ can fail in the task of sharing it with others. It is for the sake of others. Let us, like the leper in the Gospel of Mark, become bold witnesses of the mercy we have received from Christ, so that others can equally share in it.