9 October 2022 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.
2 Kings 5: 14-17, NRSV
Today’s reading tells of the healing of Naaman the leper. Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army; a powerful soldier well used to giving orders. In search of a cure for his leprosy, this mighty commander was reduced to following the words of an Israelite servant girl who advised that his leprosy could be cured by the “prophet of Samaria”. Naaman went to Israel with many gifts and with a letter from his king to the King of Israel. The King of Israel misconstrued the letter believing that the King of Syria was actually trying to pick an argument with him. Elisha the prophet (the prophet of Samaria) heard of this and sent word to the king asking that Naaman be sent to him. Naaman, no doubt desperate for a cure, went to Elisha’s house. Elisha was not interested in all the pomp and gifts that accompanied Naaman’s visit and instead sent out a messenger telling Naaman to go and bathe in the waters of the River Jordan. Naaman was understandably slighted by Elisha’s apparent indifference and went off in a rage. However, his servants persuade him to follow Elisha’s instruction and in doing so he was cured. His simple act of obedience was all that was required for his healing. It is worth remembering that Naaman’s step in faith and his cure came many years before God was accepted as any other than Lord of Israel – let alone as Lord of the whole earth.
- Why do you think Elisha did not come to meet Naaman in person?
- Can our status and pride get in the way of what God wants for us?
Is there anything in your life that needs to be healed? Bring this situation into your prayer.
