Emor P 1, Lev. 21:1-15
The cohen, the priest, may not touch a dead body or do outward signs of mourning except for the closest relative. His mission, to represent Yahveh to the people, requires that he do hard things. It does not mean that, inside, he cannot weep; Aharon did so when his sons died. But he completed the task Yahveh laid before him. We also have the task of representing our Abba to the world. We need to exercise self-control to do that; we represent Him to those who do not know Him, they can see who He is through us. So, let us be holy, not out of habit or fear, but out of love for our Abba, love for others, and devotion to our task. True holiness bears good fruit.
