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This morning we have two stories about healing. In both stories both men were suffering from a skin disease probably leprosy. In Biblical times people who suffered from a wide range of skin ailments such as rashes, sores, eczema, and also physical deformities were socially isolated. They were found to be uncleaned and excluded from religious services the very heart of the faith community. Leprosy was considered a curse from God. Lepers were not only considered physically loathsome, they were considered persistent sinners. In our Old Testament lesson that Bob read Naaman, a Syrian military commander who probably had leprosy and was seeking healing. So far commander Naaman had been able to perform his duties but this would become increasingly difficult as his physical condition deteriorated. He must have been very concerned about his health to listen to a servant, especially young, female and an Israelite. Can you imagine what Naaman thought when he approached the prophet's house? Perhaps this miracle worker could wave his hand over his leprous skin, restore it to health, and cleanness. Perhaps this miracle worker would mutter a few well-chosen prayers to his God, and bring healing. In his mind's eye, I suspect that Naaman could already picture himself riding back strong and powerful once more. What a shock is must have been for Naaman that instead of coming out to offer prayers the prophet sends a simple word of instruction by the way of the servant: "Go wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." The muddy old Jordan River! It took the servant much to prod this great military leader to the healing thing in the dirty Jordan. How surprised he was that after he had bathed himself seven times that his skin was "firm and healthy like that of a child." Much more is healed than simply Naaman's physical infirmity of leprosy. Naaman learns that worldly power and wealth are not all that matter. He and all those around him recognize the source of healing power in God, a healing that includes a new measure of peace between Israel and Syria. In this story as in the one from Mark healing changes many relationships, not simply the skin of one person. A full third of the Gospel of Mark is made up of stories of miracles, including today's story about healing a man with leprosy. These miracle stories are symbols for the gospel writer of the power of God in Jesus. Jesus encountered with the leper is filled with strong emotion. Unlike Naaman's imperial approach to the prophet, this leper comes to Jesus on bended knees. "If you choose, you can make me clean," are the leper's words. Moved by compassion, Jesus reaches out and heals the man. Why is there an apparent abruptness of Jesus? Over the centuries the church has endeavored to Christianize such a passage, to make Jesus appear in a better light. Most translations read that Jesus was "moved with pity" when he saw the leper who approached him. However, there are many translators that indicate Jesus was "angry", even indignant" when this man confronted him. There is no doubt that after the man is cured; Jesus speaks sternly to him about showing himself to a priest. What is behind this curt behavior of "gentle Jesus, meek and mild"? I think it is possible to accept the fact that Jesus really was, in fact, angry on a number of grounds. He was probably angry at the circumstances in which such a person had been forced to live. It is hard for us to imagine the psychological state of such people - wives, mothers, children, snatched from their families, then forced to fend for themselves among the rock of the ravine, amidst all the human and non-human terrors that lurked there. The point is that a leper had no right to expect, not only medical care, but also the embrace of a loving community. Jesus rather than being disgusted at the request of the leper for assistance, does not hesitate, even stresses his determination to do what no one else would have believed possible to pronounce not only a physical cure for the man when he touched him, but a spiritual cure as well; for in touching the man, Jesus is breaking the moral and religious taboos about lepers and openly, publicly welcomes the man back into community. So when he finally orders the man to go and show himself to the priest, it is highly unlikely that Jesus is doing this in order to observe the sanctioned ritual that was required for such persons. It is more likely that Jesus is challenging the religious authorities and his peers to see that God's healing grace is available to anyone who asks. We are forgiven - every last one of us. God's love is there, waiting for us, at all times in our life. It doesn't matter how bad we are, how many mistakes we've made, how horrendously we have fouled up our lives, or the mess we have made of our relationships. The forgiveness is there. We don't have to persuade God to forgive us. We don't have to go through some elaborate ritual or religious exercise to get God to forgive us. The healing, which Jesus represents, is a pure gift. That means it is not earned, not merited, not won by petition, sacrifice or a good life. According to Jesus, what we need most is available just as quickly, as easily as Jesus' response to a leper, "Okay, you're clean." God healing, whether of the body or the spirit, most often does not come to us through the waving of a prophet's hand or a miraculous instant cure. Rather God has a way of working through hospital rooms, the quietness in a home or a church, a sweaty room where the therapists guides us through repetitive exercise. It is there, where we are stripped of all our defenses and illusions that we can heal ourselves, that we often find ourselves born up by a grace that surrounds us and encompasses us and rocks us in its bosom, holding us like a scared and wounded kid. Sometimes, we even come out of the muddy water like Naaman did, with skin that looks for the entire world like that of a child. Today's lessons help us to see that we are not fully in control of our own healing. Like the man who approached Jesus, we come asking for one thing, but through Jesus' touch, we receive so much more. We can choose with Jesus to be a healing touch in our world. We have opportunities as individuals and as congregations to tell the story of God's love, of the healing power available to us and to all people in the good news of Jesus Christ. Let us surprise others and surprise ourselves as we share ministries that in many ways, various shapes, and different forms offer a healing touch to our world and its hurting people. Prayer Amen. |
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