On the 8th day of his ordination ceremony, the High Priest takes his rightful place of service at the altar.

On the 8th day of his cleansing ceremony, the leper resumes his rightful place of service in the community.

The parallels between the priest's ordination and the leper's cleansing are not accidental. God intended for all of his people to be a kingdom of priests. We can't all serve as Levitical priests, but we can all serve as priests to the world in the sense that we represent God and the Good News of his kingdom.
Leviticus 13:34