This weekend’s readings focus on the healing of leprosy, the healing of an outsider, and the grateful response that the outsider gives.
The Second Book of Kings tells the story of Elisha and Naaman. Side note, no I did not spell the prophet Elijah’s name wrong. There is Elijah and his successor, Elisha. Pronounced very similarly, but two different people. Naaman was the commander of a gentile army, the king of Aram. Naaman was also a leper, an outsider. The Arameans had conquered Israel. A little Israelite girl was in the service of Naaman’s wife and told her mistress, “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Naaman went to Samaria to Elisha to ask him to heal him but expected a spectacle. Elisha asked him to wash in the Jordan, plunging into the water seven times. Naaman is insulted that this is all he is asked to do and first rejects it as being no different than the water at home. He is convinced to just try it and see. Naaman is healed so thoroughly that his skin is like that of a little child. Naaman returns to Elisha to thank him, to praise the one true God, and to offer a gift in response to Elisha. After Elisha rejects the gifts, Naaman promises to offer sacrifices only to the Lord from this day forward.
The Gospel tells the story of the 10 lepers that cry out to God. The number 10 usually refers to a sense of divine completeness, perfect order, and God’s law/governance. There are 10 lepers who cry out to Jesus to “have pity on us!” Jesus answers to show themselves to the priests. Only the priests could declare them clean again and allow them back into the community and right worship of God. They are cleansed on the way, but only the Samaritan returns to Jesus to thank Him.
Notice that Naaman goes to Samaria to meet Elisha the prophet. Here the Samaritan, the outsider, is the only one to return to the eternal priest, Jesus Christ, not only to thank Him, but for his declaration of being made clean. This man in gratitude came back to the Lord Jesus to thank Him for this healing. The number 10 was meant to be showing completeness, perfect order, and God’s law/governance, but the other nine didn’t return. Jesus declares not only is this man made clean, but that his faith has saved him.
How do we respond to the immensity of what Jesus is doing in our life? We too are outsiders. We are gentiles. Do we praise God in the good and the bad alike? Do we return to the Lord after our prayers are answered? After He has healed us and saved us? As we come to the end of this season of stewardship, are we taking the time to prayerfully re-commit ourselves to the Lord in our stewardship commitment cards? Are we turning them in? Are we filling them out online? Are we responding to the goodness of God in our lives in prayer, time, talent, and treasure?
Please respond to the Lord for what He has done for you!
Father Arisman