Epiphany 6 B, at Crissey Farm
by the Rev. Frances A. Hills
I’m thinking about what a
difference there is between the man with leprosy in today’s first reading and
the man with leprosy in the Gospel reading. The first man, Naaman is the commander of the king
of Aram’s army. He is not a follower of the God of Israel. He doesn’t
live in a Jewish culture. In his culture, and perhaps because of his
importance, Naaman is still functioning in the society, in spite of his leprosy.
Hundreds of years later, the second
man does live in a Jewish culture. He has no name or rank that we
are told. We can assume he lived in a leper colony, or someplace where he was
kept away from other people, because for the Jews a leper was an outcast.
Unclean. Untouchable.
The first man, Naaman, is led to
his healing because a young Hebrew girl, his wife’s servant, a girl who
worships the God of Israel, has compassion on Naaman. She suggests there’s a holy man
back in her native Israel who could cure him. Naaman tells his king, and his
king sends him off with a letter of introduction and many gifts for the king of
Israel…On the outside chance the holy man could heal Naaman. In contrast, the leper in the Gospel story seems to
know for himself something about Jesus. He goes to him directly, empty
handed, and asks for the healing he believes Jesus can bestow.
In the older story, the Hebrew king reads the
Aramean king’s letter and panics: He assumes he is to be the
healer, and he knows he is not a healer. Fortunately for all, the
prophet Elisha steps forward and says he can do the healing. (He’s the
holy man the servant girl referred to.) Elisha sends a message to Naaman
to go wash himself seven times in the River Jordan. Naaman is insulted. How
dare this holy man not speak to him directly and not do something
for
him directly to dispel the leprosy! And how dare he suggest he wash in
the Jordan River—surely the rivers in Aram are better! Naaman was
furious! Fortunately Naaman’s
servants were wise & courageous and chided him: “If the prophet had asked you to do
something difficult, wouldn’t
you have done it?” Then why not try what he asks? So, reluctantly, the great
commander of the Aramean king’s army washes himself in the Jordan and becomes
clean of his leprosy. In the Gospel story, the man without rank or name simply
asks Jesus directly for healing and receives it . . .
Two lepers, centuries apart. Both
in their very different ways had to
humble themselves to ask for
healing. Had to trust somehow that
God could heal.
In very different ways, both had to
take some fairly big risks to ask
for healing. Two lepers, worlds apart in rank,
status and religious beliefs, received the healing they sought from a God of
grace who shows no partiality.
I invite us to think today about
places in our lives that may need healing… To help you think, here’s a
definition of “health” that the World Health Organization uses: “Health is a state of complete physical,
mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.” Perhaps this definition can help us identify where we need to be
healed—As individuals, people in relationship, people of the Church, people of the
Berkshires, people of this Country, and people of Planet Earth.
And especially on this day, let’s ask the question, “What would it take for us, the people of St. James and
George, to have a deeper sense of physical, mental, spiritual, and social
well-being?” What would it take for us to
seek help from God for our own health? To ask for healing in any area of our
minds, bodies, spirits, relationships that might need it? Can we
admit we might need help?
And if we need help, what risks would we have to take? What would we have to give up? What expectations about our
status (hi, low) would be at
play in our actions & reactions? Would we, could we, like the leper in the
Gospel, go to God directly for help? Or would we, like Naaman, need a
compassionate servant to suggest a healer and/or people
willing to confront us about our attitudes? And if we went to God for help, would
we also grumble about the river we’re asked to wash in? Would we do what we are asked to do to
get well? Most importantly, would
we have full confidence in God’s power and then simply be able to ask
God to use it for us?
The way we answer these questions is
critical to our health and well-being and the healing process at all levels. Some
say, “God helps those who help themselves.” But perhaps a better slogan is, “God
helps those who trust in God.”
Let us pray,
God of all mercies and comfort, our
only help in time of need: We beseech you to behold, visit and relieve all your
sick servants, your children who need healing, your world which is so broken,
and our congregations that have been in exile for so long. Look upon us with your eyes of mercy; comfort
us with a sense of your goodness; preserve us from temptations; and give us
patience under our afflictions. Help us listen to our hearts and to one another.
Help us ask for what we need. Help us trust in your healing power.
No comments:
Post a Comment