The Torah commands the people to bring a metzora to the Kohen. This implies that the metzora is brought even by force, if necessary. The Ibn Ezra explains that human nature’s control over a person is compelling. The moment that he is healed from his illness, he no longer senses the urgency to attain his purity. Thus, he must be brought to the Kohen.
Horav Mordechai Gifter, Shlita, feels that this applies to all areas of human endeavor. When the metzora is in pain, when he suffers various afflictions, he does anything to effect a release from his anguish. Yet, once his sickness has faded, and he has performed teshuvah, repentence, he is no longer as eager to complete the process to attain purity. Once the suffering is over, his attitude changes. He must now be compelled to go to the Kohen.
Is it any different with us? Do we pray only when it hurts, becoming lax in our attitude as soon as the circumstances have changed? Perhaps if our attitude throughout our avodas Hashem, service to the Almighty, would be consistent, Hashem would not need to send us “little reminders.”
