בס"ד
The beginning of Parshas Metzora teaches us an important lesson in
teshuva.
After the first two pesukim that refer to the formerly afflicted person
as a metzora, he is never again called by this appellation. He is given
a new title, האיש המיטהר – the man who is becoming pure.
Now, if he is only becoming pure – that means that he is
not yet pure. Without being overly technical, if he is not yet pure – then he
must still be impure! Why don't we simply refer to him as the tameh, or
better yet, the metzorah, until such time as his purification is
complete?
Because that would be inaccurate.
While there are still steps a former metzora must take to achieve
divine forgiveness and prevent backsliding, these are all technicalities.
Ultimately, he has turned a corner and is now on the mend, spiritually.
This is, in essence, true for any one of us who is struggling with any part
of our avodas Hashem. Once we are free and clear of the core blemish,
the initial misjudgment that caused us to stray – we can take the vaunted title
of "ba'al teshuva". We may still struggle, we may even still fall,
but never again should we refer to ourselves as a sinner. We are a "מיטהר"-one
who is becoming pure, not there yet – but commited to staying the path.
And with this new, positive self image we are deserving of much siyaata
dishmaaya. Even the kohein, who spends all of his days in the innermost
camp, communing with the shechina, must go out to the מיטהר to see that he
is indeed free of blemish.
May we all be zocheh to recognize our shortcomings and commit to
a path to overcome them, thusly earning the polished crown of a מיטהר. And marching
with these crowns, may we greet mashiach tzidkeynu, bimheyra
beyameinu, amen
Hatzlacha !.
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