Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Mark 1:40-45
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master.
From the very beginning of this story, we are made well aware of Naaman's importance. But his power was not able to help him in his greatest need, as we heard: The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.
Leprosy, as you are probably well aware, was a skin disease. We hear about leprosy a lot in the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. It was probably a term they used to describe a wide variety of diseases, and we can assume that none of them were very pleasant. Still, since we hear about it so often, I went searching for a description of this disease, so we could really imagine what it was like. Here is one description that I found:
This disease begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms, gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white wherever they appear, crusting the affected parts with white scales, and causing terrible sores and swellings. From the skin the disease eats inward to the bones, rotting the whole body [piece by piece]. {from Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary}
Pretty nasty, eh? But the physical aspect was only one side of the disease. There were also very strict limitations from society:
In Christ's day no leper could live [inside the walls of the] town, though he might in an open village. But wherever he was he was required to have his outer garment [torn] as a sign of deep grief, to go bareheaded.... as if in lamentation at his own virtual death. He had further to warn passers-by to keep away from him, by calling out, 'Unclean! unclean!' nor could he speak to any one, or receive or return a salutation, since in the East this involves an embrace.
So not only was Naaman's body quite literally falling apart, but he was shut off from the rest of the people around him. Although he might be leading an army, he would never be fully accepted. It seems that the effects of the illness were just starting to appear, as Naaman refers to only a spot, but that spot would continue to grow and spread.
Put yourself in his position for a moment, if you can. That might seem difficult, because we don't worry too much about leprosy these days, but having heard the description, try and imagine what it would be like. How would you feel when you first found out? Would you try to hide it? Would you worry about what would happen when people found out? Since there was no cure and the disease progressively got worse and worse, how would you go on?
Imagine all of that for a moment. Close your eyes if it helps. Think about where the spot might be. Maybe on your arm.... or your leg.... it could be on your face or neck.... it might even be somewhere on your back that you would have trouble reaching, although you would want to try to avoid touching it anyway.
Can you feel it?
Now imagine that someone tells you of a possible cure. There is a doctor a few hours away who might be able to help. He is your only real hope, so you take off from work and go to seek him out, but when you get there, he doesn't even come out to see you. Instead he just sends a message for you to go wash in a local pond.
How disappointed would you be?
Naaman was very upset. He turned and went away in a rage.
Fortunately his servants acted as his friends, and encouraged him to follow Elisha's advice, even though it didn't seem nearly enough.
Father, 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, and be clean?
Naaman had forgotten perhaps the most important ingredient in life: a willingness to try. He was ready to do nothing at all because he didn't think a small gesture would be enough.
Now I know that Naaman lived a long time ago.... and I know that he had a skin disease that we don't really worry about all that much any more. But what can we learn about ourselves from Naaman's story?
There is something that we — as a society — face these days which is every bit as dangerous as leprosy. It is every bit as contagious, and threatens our health and the health of those around us. It is the same thing that nearly kept Naaman from receiving the healing that he needed. The danger we face is hardness of heart.
This threat has been with us for centuries. It is not new to us, we are not the only ones who have ever faced it. In fact if you went to any group across the country and across the world, you could find some trace of it. You can find it in many different forms: apathy, frustration, anger, cynicism, hatred, greed.... you could no doubt think of other ways you have seen it around you.
There is a cure for all of these ailments, a cure that is as simple as washing your hands: willingness. A willing spirit, an attitude that does not ignore the problems in the world or the challenges at hand, but a spirit that says What can I do to help make it better?
Naaman complained because the cure didn't seem like it was enough. We can understand that. After all, who of us has never felt like the obstacles we faced were not overwhelming? Mother Theresa was quoted as saying I know God will never give me more than I can handle, I just wish He didn't trust me so much.
She knew that she could not solve the problems of the world, but she was willing to do what she could to try and make it better.
People have looked to the church for this willingness to help when the rest of the world rejects them. Naaman came to Elisha, the leper came to Jesus. It is our willingness to be the hands and feet of Jessus which will provide the help that they need in times of trouble.
You do not have to move across the world to do this. You can begin the moment you step outside the walls of this building. Look across the street and see the center that is being built for IHN. In a few weeks we will host IHN families again — those who come in their hour of need, and receive help at the hands of those who are willing to try. Don't worry that we can't solve the problem of homelessness, because we can help to make it better.
The church has always been about reaching out to others. You can see it almost every day in the ministries that take place in and through this congregation. Bring that willingness to your home, your work, the grocery store, and anywhere life brings you.
Come down on a Wednesday and see the amazing willingness of the volunteers who come together with willing hearts to make a difference in the lives of our children and youth. Come out to one of the dinners held by the Presbyterian Women and see the ministries that have taken place for decades by those who have simply come together to see what they could do.
This congregation has a long and rich tradition of being willing to help. Just a few weeks ago we came together to raise money for St. Francis House at the Souper Bowl luncheon. In one afternoon we raised $900 to help feed the hungry. Were we able to solve the problem? No, but we were able to make it a little better — and more importantly we were willing.
The church continues to make a difference. How? Not with grand gestures, but with simple acts of willingness to be involved.
And God has not left us alone, to do this with our own act of will. He has promised us His Spirit to be with us in all that we do.
We have continued to run the race that began long ago, God's sees our faithfulness and will continue to bless our efforts, but will also continue to put challenges before us, and call us to be willing to do what we can to make things better.
Willingness takes place through our eyes, ears, and heart. It makes us look around to ask What can I do to help?
and then guides and motivates our hands and feet to action. God has promised His Holy Spirit to be with us, to guide us and encourage us. We must listen and be willing to go where He will lead.