In today’s first reading from Second Kings, we meet Naaman. Naaman has power and wealth and influence. He’s the commander of the army, and a successful one, at that. Life is pretty good for Naaman, except for one thing. Naaman suffers from leprosy, a skin disease. It is a liability, this disease, and perhaps a source of shame. And for someone who is used to moving through the world in a certain way, paths paved by his wealth and influence, it must have been so frustrating to have this affliction that paid no heed to his status. Here was a problem he could not buy or muscle or influence his way out of.
 |
| Photo by Kadir Celep on Unsplash |
It so happened that in Naaman’s household, there was a young girl from the land of Israel. She had been taken captive on a raid by the Arameans, and worked as a slave for Naaman’s wife. This girl had heard - or perhaps even seen - the work of the prophet Elisha in Samaria, and told her mistress that surely he would be able to cure Naaman’s ailment.
Surprisingly, great, powerful, influential Naaman takes the advice of this young, enslaved, foreign girl. He approaches the king, who offers to send a letter with Naaman to the king of Israel. Naaman packs up, ready to make his case for healing. He brings an enormous amount of money, along with the letter to the king, which read “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
When he reads the letter, the king of Israel is distraught - “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.” But while the king is upset, word eventually gets to the prophet Elisha, and he invites Naaman to come.
Naaman rolls up to the entrance of the prophet’s house with his horses and chariots. When he saw the king, he brought an extravagant display of wealth and a recommendation from his king in order to buy his healing. When he goes to see the prophet, his military might is on full display. Naaman is determined to be healed - whether by proving his worthiness or taking it by force.
And yet the prophet has no time for such displays. Did you notice how Elisha didn’t even bother to greet Naaman himself? Instead, he sends a messenger to the entrance to instruct Naaman that if he wants to be healed, he should go wash in the Jordan River seven times.
Naaman is furious. This is not what he wanted. It’s too simple, too ordinary. The prophet didn't even come out to look at his skin! He didn't say anything, or heal by touch. How could this possibly work? Or, I wonder, as someone used to spending extravagantly, perhaps Naaman isn’t sure if anything free is actually worth having. And what about his wealth, his power, his influence - don’t they count for something?
Well, no. They don’t.
In the midst of his angry blustering, it is again some lowly servants who set Naaman on the right path. “Father,” they say, “if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more when all he said to you was ‘Wash, be clean’?”
So Naaman swallowed his pride and lowered himself into the Jordan River, seven times, just as the prophet said. And with that simple act, Naaman was healed. His skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he was made clean. This ordinary water was the means by which God's work was accomplished. Naaman’s healing revealed to him the power of God, which was not something he could buy or win through intimidation, but only receive.
We too have challenges that we cannot buy or muscle or influence our way out of. As we confess at the beginning of each worship service, we know that we are held captive by sin and cannot free ourselves. Wealth, power, influence, ability - none of it can earn us God’s favor. It is by God’s grace alone that we are forgiven, set free, and made whole. Not on our terms, but on God’s.
There’s no catch - it really is free, and it really is that simple. God’s grace comes to us apart from our deserving, or our wealth, or our goodness.
And how do we experience this grace? Through common, ordinary things. In ordinary water, by the power of God’s word, we are cleansed and claimed in baptism. These waters join us to God and one another, and we can remember God’s goodness and God’s promises each time we wash the dishes, or bathe, or play in water.
Through ordinary bread and wine we are forgiven and nourished with the very body and blood of Christ in the Communion meal. As we gather at the table, you will hear that these promises are for you – not because of anything you’ve done or not done, but because of God’s love.
In ordinary people, God’s Spirit is at work, empowering us to do the risky, important work of speaking up for justice, serving one another, and caring for the world God so dearly loves.
God has always used ordinary things to bring about wholeness and life. For this, we give thanks.
Comments
Post a Comment