THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. Indeed, Palladius. The sacred David asserts: ‘The sin of my youth, and my ignorance, remember me not: in thy mercy remember me, for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord’ (Ps. 24:7). The law appears to encompass all, providing evidence of its precise nature, whether it concerns vessels, wool, the weave and warp, or leather items. It states, ‘If there be leprosy,’ and a malady appears on any of these objects, then “the priest” must “see” it again, and remove the “ulcer”: and if the stain does not improve, “let it be burnt upon the fires: for leprosy of histories is,” as noted (Lev. 13:51-52).
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Furthermore, it instructs that what has been spoiled should be cleansed; however, if it is found that the spoil has taken hold, it is to be destroyed by fire, deemed completely worthless, much like wool, duck, and other materials that reflect our state. Indeed, the horn holds no worth in wool, weft, or similar items, leading one to question how anyone could contest this? Thus, we must recognize it as a serious transgression when, despite the cleansing and washing performed by Christ in us, we do not separate ourselves from impurities but choose to remain in them. For if Christ, having purified us, found no purpose in our cleansing, He would justly cast us into the fire as punishment, similar to how the lawful priest, observing no advantage for the duck or the foundation from the washing, ultimately burned them. Palladius. This is true. Cyril. In this manner, the law employs leprosy to symbolically illustrate mortification, skillfully drawing on visible and tangible examples to express deeper spiritual truths, using physical illustrations to clarify internal concepts.