I am up to Leviticus in my annual read-through of the Bible. This is probably the eighth time I've read Leviticus, and always before it's been a slog. "Historical interest!" I tell myself. "The struggle for holiness!" I tell myself. "It's only 27 chapters!" I tell myself.
But this year it's landing differently. Leviticus says, "When you have a contagious disease -- or even if you might have a contagious disease -- you have a non-negotiable responsibility to protect the members of your community. Even if it's lonely! Even if it's costly! The well-being of your community demands personal sacrifice."
That's a striking passage to read after a year in which Christians have been some of the loudest proponents of defying COVID precautions.
"Well," I said to myself, "that was a little gift! Applicability! In Leviticus! Now I will soldier on through the rest of it." But then! This morning I was struck again by the timeliness of today's passage. It says, "You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your neighbor justly."
Show no deference to the mighty when rendering judgment. Maybe I'll send that one to Ted Cruz.
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