Take a moment to centre yourself with prayer:
O God, your creation of life is a mystery to us. We come before you, thankful for your guidance – from ancient days to the present day. Guide us though the dilemmas and mysteries of our place and time. In our reflections on your Word, speak through us and help us to remember your presence in our hearts. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
READ 2 Kings 5:1-14
This story is full of humour that is hard for us to detect: Hebrew word play, irony, and caricatures that would have lowered the audience’s defences.
If you continue the reading beyond the lectionary passage and read 2 Kings 5:15-19 or 19-27, the teaching continues to unsettle our very human responses to what seems a pretty straightforward healing story.
In the opening verses, we are told of Namaan’s greatness – not only was he a hero to the nation of Aram, but an instrument of God to keep the king and armies of Israel humble! But he had leprosy!
Commentaries disagree whether this is the same leprosy that struck in Jesus’ time – Hansen’s disease – very disfiguring and also contagious. Or was it a simpler skin disease like excema? His contact with others was not restricted, so was this great warrior felled by a little itch?!
In verse 2-3, we hear that real help comes from Israel, and from Namaan’s opposite – a powerless slave girl.
Namaan is desperate enough that he listens and goes to the king, who also listens to the advice of a slave girl! In order to ensure Namaan’s safety across enemy lines, the king of Aram sends a letter and gifts to the king of Israel.
The letter is confusing to the king of Israel, who acts like a buffoon and has a tantrum. Elisha the prophet hears about the controversy and intervenes “that he may know there IS a prophet in Israel.” This is where the real power lies!
Verse 9 and following tell the actual encounter between the healer and the healee – now it is Namaan who looks pretty silly. Lowly servants save the day!
Verses 15-19 tell the story of Namaan’s conversion – a very pragmatic outcome! Israel accommodates outsiders.
Verses 19-27 tell of Elisha’s helper Gehazi, and how he tried to profit from the healing, and was thus cursed.
Question for Reflection:
At a time when they were fending off foreign influences, why would the faith community have told a story about the healing of an outsider or enemy? How does this “subversive” message keep the people of God guessing?
READ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The summary of the argument that Paul has been making: Christians should make their life of faith their priority in order to reach the ultimate goal – spreading the good news. Paul has addressed the many pitfalls that could damage the gospel. Now he wants them to keep their eye on the ultimate goal.
Verse 24 makes mention of many runners (many priorities?) Verse 25 reminds them that it is good to have self-control. Constant vigilance is required, always testing whether one’s motives and actions live up to the example set by Jesus. Athletes can do it in order to win a perishable prize – it is worth so much more to “win” eternal life!!
Paul uses classic Greco-Roman athletic imagery, rather than Jewish imagery in this example. For many philosophies (Epictetus and Seneca) physical training was part of the philosophical tradition. Corinth was the site of the Isthmian games, so it would have resonated with Paul’s audience.
Overall, Paul attempts to encourage all Christians not to live aimlessly or thoughtlessly but intentionally and with a purpose. True wisdom is something one acquires with attention to true priorities. Verse 27 speaks to self-denial if necessary, but not self-punishment for the sake of punishment itself. It is all a means to the end of serving Christ.
Question for Reflection:
What are you willing or have you been willing to give up for the sake of your faith? Do you believe this is a legitimate demand of faith?
READ Mark 1:40-45
By the close of Chapter 1, Mark has established that Jesus is a true healer, exorcist, preacher and teacher. Now Mark raises the question of how Jesus fits into the religious system.
Unlike Namaan’s story, this form of leprosy is almost without doubt “Hansen’s disease” – contagious, debilitating, causing rejection from the community. Shocking that the leper would approach Jesus, even more so that Jesus would TOUCH him (verse 2.)
“Moved with pity” is difficult to translate from the greek – “filled with compassion, feeling sorry for him” also fail to describe the word. The original is not just an emotional word, but an action word or an orientation in life choices (in Mark 6 it is translated “had compassion on”.)
Another word used several times raises the issue of “being clean.” Obviously more than sanitation it refers to healing, acceptability, reconciliation. And once again, Mark uses the word “immediately” to show that Jesus’ ministry is urgent, timely, impatient.
In verse 43, Jesus is “stern”, even angry, about sending the man for the priest’s approval. The necessity of being isolated instead of showing compassion is false for someone who knows God. Clearly Jesus’ authority does not come from the religious establishment!
Jesus has made himself ritually unclean in order to make someone clean from disability and social isolation. What are the priests going to do about that??
Question for Reflection:
How do you understand faith healing to be part of our ministry in the church today? How does it shape our prayers, our pastoral care, our own faith?
Closing Prayer: Based on Psalm 30
O God, you have drawn me up, like an artist with a clean sheet of paper;
you will not crumple me up as if I am not good enough,
nor let others laugh at me.
Where I would have made myself more perfect, you have loved my imperfections.
You have made me beautiful, even with mistakes.
You restored my image, not by making me a paper doll,
but by standing back and appreciating the whole.
O God, I sing you a faithful song, and invite others to join in.
While I may go off-key, or doubt my abilities, you give me joyful noise!
I say with confidence that I will never be moved,
At least until the next time I am disappointed in myself.
You do not give up on me, O God.
You know I am useful when I feel like it.
And so you laugh when I have the courage to dance;
You sing along even when I lose the tune.
And for that I will always give thanks. Amen!
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