Leviticus 21:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They shall be holy to their God, and shall not dishonour the name of their God; for they offer sacrifices to the Lord, bread to their God, and therefore they shall be holy” (Leviticus 21:1-6). A careful examination reveals that one does not become defiled merely through the death of another. Rather, physical death symbolizes internal and spiritual death, which can corrupt the one who approaches it through either longing or similar actions. Therefore, it is fitting for the faithful to distance themselves from acts of death and avoid those who are engaged in such deeds. As it is written, “He who touches the pitch will be defiled” (Sir. 13:1). One who does not take care to avoid such contamination may easily share in the evil of others. However, the law allows the sanctified to innocently touch the bodies of their close family—parents, children, and siblings—as an act of honor, overlooking these minor transgressions, provided that the faithful do not appear unkind or arrogant. The law explicitly states: “Honour thy father and thy mother, .... That thy days may be long upon the earth” (Ex. 20:12). Furthermore, it is also important to recognize that the consecrated are prohibited from mourning excessively. How could those who serve as priests of life, offering sacrifices to God as a means of liberation from death—symbolized by Christ’s sacrifice—allow themselves to be burdened by grief concerning death? The Apostle Paul articulates this sentiment clearly to the baptized, who hold the hope of resurrection: “But I do not want to leave you, brethren, in ignorance of the dead, lest you should grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will also bring those who died in Jesus with Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Thus, while the law permits the consecrated to approach their deceased relatives, it also calls for moderation in this practice to safeguard the sacred nature of the priesthood. For instance, it prohibits imitating the customs of other cultures, such as shaving one's head or altering the face through the removal of beards, as well as forbidding any practices of self-mutilation. Though showing empathy for family in times of sorrow is not unreasonable, completely disfiguring oneself is irrational. The principle remains that “everything must be decent and respectable” (1 Cor. 14:40). Christ Himself instructed us to prioritize our duties to God even above our obligations to our own parents: “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37).