Naaman the Leper 2 Kings 5 Proper 9C Ordinary 14C Pentecost +7

We find in the tale of Naaman the Syrian a masterfully told narrative. Immediately upon reading, we are caught up in the plot, or the problem. There is a great man, honourable man, strong man, but he has contracted a disease. However, the word for leprosy used here is not the worst kind that would separate him from everyone. It may have been something so simple as eczema or psoriasis, but any skin disease was considered suspect because after all it could be leprosy. Then we have a shock: an un-named slave girl suggests the cure. What is even more shocking is that Naaman listens to this unnamed slave girl.

The cure lies in the power of a prophet in Israel. The prophet is unnamed, but we know who it is because we have already been reading about the miracles of Elisha in chapter 4: he causes the widow’s oil lasted longer than it should have, he raises the Shunammite woman’s son, he purifies some poison stew, and he feeds 100 people with very little food, we the readers have no problem believing that Elisha can cure Naaman’s leprosy.

But there is this one little problem. Israel and Syria do not have a good relationship, if you turn over to chapter 6 you find that Syria and Israel are at war. How in the world will a commander of the army of Syria (Aram), march into Israel and ask for healing? He does it with dignity and pomp and circumstance and lots of money, like any VIP would do. Surely the king of Israel won’t turn down a load of money. 10 talents of silver A talent could weigh anything from 50-80 lbs and silver today is worth about $225 a pound. 6,000 shekels of gold would be 150 lbs of gold, gold is worth about $400 a pound today, and 10 changes of clothes in a day when most people wore their clothes until they rotted off of them. But the king of Israel takes it as a trick.

Meanwhile Elisha knows what is going on and sends a servant and says to send Naaman to him that ‘he may learn there is a prophet in Israel’. What does the VIP expect when his chariot and his entourage stops at Elisha’s door? The red carpet? Flashing paparazzi photography? Of course. After all this is the treatment that commanders receive. Instead he gets nothing but a servant, possibly a slave to deliver the healer’s message: go dip in the Jordan river seven times. And he has a righteous fit. I’ve tried to think of a similar situation and what I thought of was Donald Trump with all his money arriving at a tribal shaman’s house asking for a cure. It looks this ridiculous. And then for the healer to send a servant? That is dishonourable. This means the prophet is not even giving him the time of day to see him. This is when you have stage 4 cancer and your oncologist sends a medical assistant to give his or her orders, and you never see the doctor. But his servants see the heart of the problem. It’s just too easy. If it was difficult, would  you have done it? Of course you must give a difficult task to a hero in order to make the story sell. Perhaps he will kill a giant with nothing but a slingshot, or take on  the 12 tasks of Hercules that start with killing a lion, and killing the nine headed dragon… Perhaps he will have to fly a fight plane through a trench and make a precise shot to destroy the death star, or take the one ring and throw it in the fire of mount doom, At very very least he should have to lift a heavy hammer and defeat his evil brother.

 Naaman hoped for such a task, instead he is told to dip in a dirty river. Talk about anticlimactic! For instance: would the so called Oklahoma river-that we know is really the Canadian make you clean? No, it might give you Ecoli. And everyone knows that Syrian’s rivers are much better than Israel’s little stream called the Jordan. His servants persuade him, just as the servant girl persuaded him to try this in the first place. He is clean, he is cured, he rejoices and wants to worship the God of Israel, which shows not only is he physically healed but spiritually as well. Elisha won’t take payment and Naaman wants dirt, probably because he believed that gods were geographically located and if he had Israel’s soil perhaps Israel’s god would give him favour. But there is a subtle message in the fact that he brought with him gold and silver and took back dirt.

In the story of Naaman, God has turned everything upside down. Social conventions, status quo, the responsibility of kings and governments, and in the midst of this we even ask ourselves the question of who has the right to health care? The story is even more topsy turvy for us, because a Syrian is a powerful man and the Syrians we know are now refugees wondering the earth. But this story addresses the issue of the nobody as the Syrians wander the earth. Who had the power in this story? Well God of course, but who has the voice of God, the authority? The servants. God’s cure is given in grace, not with difficult tasks to complete. And God has absolutely no respect for the boundaries, geographical, social, political, and economic that we humans erect.

 Surely, the boundaries that we place around God’s love cannot and will not hold God back.

Jesus refers to this story in Luke 4 when he addresses the synagogue in his hometown

Luke 4

“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵ I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. ²⁶ Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. ²⁷ And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸ All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ²⁹ They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. ³⁰ But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Is it any wonder they wanted to throw him off the cliff?

Easter 3 Walk to Emmaus Luke 24:13-49

A favorite passage for many reasons. And so very easy to preach. But sometimes the easy passages to preach become difficult as you have preached them so many times. Perhaps this will give you a few insights.

1. They did not recognize him. Why not? Did he look different? Did he sound different? Or was it simply because, well, he died! Who expects the person they saw die 3 days ago to be walking next to them?

2. The Scriptures revealed to them who he was. The Gospels are careful to point out that Jesus as Messiah was a fulfillment of the prophecies.

3. They recognized him at the Table. Note he didn't ask if they believed before they sat down or even before he broke the bread. My tradition, Wesleyan, believes in an open table. We do not believe that there is any requirement for sharing the Lord's Supper except for a desire to know Jesus.

4. This passage may be used as a lens in which to interpret all of Scripture.
    a. We come with limited knowledge
    b. The spirit of Christ reveals the Scriptures to us.
    c. The Spirit reveals His Word at the Table.

Lent 4 C Luke 15:1-32

The lost sheep. The prodigal son.
Just saw Les Mis. Yeah I know I am behind. Victor Hugo captured the story of redemption.

Fontaine the prodigal? Or Valjean the prodigal? Yes.

And heaven a barricade?

Or is heaven simply liberty? Do we all see it in the context in which we lived?

I dreamed a dream.

But my favourite line

To love someone is to see the face of God. In loving Cosette Valjean was redeemed.

100th post Lent 3C Luke 13:1-9

I have made it full circle. I am now posting comments on passages that I commented on 3 years ago in the lectionary cycle.

This is my 100th post.

I am proud. In a humble, Christian way, of course. ;-)

Luke 13:1-9 finds Jesus answering a question that well ask sooner or later. Why do some suffer more than others? Do the consequences people face match the in they commit.

Jesus answers with a story like he usually does. He answers with stories that leave us to interpret. And we have a much more difficult job interpreting than his hearers as we are separated by 2000 plus years from them.

His answer seems to be filled with grace. The gardener shows grace to the tree. He wants to give it just one more chance to produce fruit.

The answer could not be more simple. Give one more chance. That seems to be what God does with his people over and over. Give them another chance.

Lent 3 C Isaiah 55:1-13 If you are thirsty

These words from Isaiah are often quoted.

⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Usually when we don't understand something, a person will quote this to make us feel better. 

It  does not make me feel better.

If they were used in the context they were meant they probably would have encouraged me. 

Seek the Lord while you while he may be found. 

He was found. 

He was found by the Exiles in Babylon. Even when they thought he had stayed behind in Israel. He was found. 

It was in the pain that they found that God could be found. 

And when they found him, they burst into song.

Lent 1 C The Temptation of Jesus Star Wars Style

spoiler alert Star Wars series

The Truce at Bakura is the  1993 Star Wars novel by Kathy Tyers that details events that take place immediately following the 'Return of the Jedi' (1983 Lucasfilms).

In this novel, Luke Skywalker continues to fight the temptation to descend to the Dark Side of the Force. He is surprised the the temptations do not get weaker, they get stronger. The more powerful he becomes in the Force, the more powerful the temptations become to submit to the Dark Side. But unlike his father, Anakin Skywalker, Luke refused to cave. He doggedly continues the practices that Master Yoda taught him, disciplining himself to resist the temptations.

Luke has just experienced the most majestic victory of his peripatetic adult years and even his entire life. He has seen the destruction of the Empire's Death Star. He has convinced Darth Vader to remove his mask. He has witnessed his dead father's apparition in the Force along with his mentor Obi Wan Kenobi.

It is often after the greatest victories that we experience the driest deserts and the strongest temptations.

Jesus has just been baptized. He has seen the Holy Spirit descend upon himself in the form of a dove, and heard his Father say that he is well pleased.

 He had experienced the

most

 majestic

magnificent

moment

of his life.  

Then he encounters the

deepest

darkest

driest

duration

of his life.

Veggie Tales puts it this way

We didn’t have a lot of fun in the desert

We didn’t have a lot of fun in the sand.

Now of course Veggies refers to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.

But there is a reason why Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness.

There is a reason why he is in the wilderness

There is a reason why he is in the desert.

It is no accident that there are parallels to the trials of his ancestors.

Like Luke, Jesus practices the disciplines taught him.

Like Luke, Jesus refused to give in to the Dark Side.

Jesus emerges from the desert as Luke emerged from the swamp in the Empire Strikes Back.

Ready.

To.

Face.

Anything.

The.

Dark.

Side.

Throws.

At.

Him.

Grow! Feast of Holy Family I Samuel 2:18-26 Psalm 148 Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52 Christmas C 1

^{I Samuel 2: 21} 

And the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.
26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.

^{Luke 2:51} Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
 ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Psalm 148

¹¹Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!

¹²Young men and women alike, old and young together!

¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.

Colossians 3

²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.

This week more than many it is easy to see the connection in the lectionary passages! 

As I am still in the 'note' process of crafting a sermon which must be preached twice this Sunday, I will simply share some 'thoughts.' 
Forgive my randomness; there is no rhyme to these reasons yet.

"Obey" stands out. But I hate that word. When it applies to me. Now, when it applies to my children, well, that is much better. 

But then "grow" has risen to the top of the cup also. 

"Favor" is third in the running.

"Young" or "Child" is fourth. 

Increasing in wisdom and stature and favor.

This is the only account of anything to do with the childhood (between birth and baptism/entry of ministry) of Jesus in the four Gospels.

The Gospel of Luke is written as a journey. 
This is the first journey that Jesus takes to Jerusalem.

We continue to learn about the reversal of expectations.
Jesus was not born in Jerusalem as a 'proper' Jewish king should. 
But here we find him in Jerusalem, in the Temple, conversing with the religious leaders like a 'proper' Jewish king and his parents do not expect it.
The child teaches the parents. 
The rabbis/teachers are amazed by the child. 
Yet the parents have provided the tradition of going 'up' to Jerusalem for Passover. They have provided structure of the community of faith. 
Jesus was given a rich heritage of faith.

Jesus is 12, he is not 13, which would make him a man according to Jewish tradition.
Then there is the preaching path that takes us to 'family conflict during holidays.' Maybe I shouldn't touch that one.

A case study of what a father can do to keep children off drugs.
1. eat dinner with his family
2. do homework with his children
3. take his children to church/synagogue/place of worship

What is the next step to take after Christmas? 

ll that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

 ^{(JRR TOLKIEN THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING)}

"Not all those who wander are lost," is the most famous quote from the Lord of the Rings series.

Jesus was wandering but he was not lost. 

What do we learn from children?

A Voice! Magnificat Advent 4 C Luke 1:39-56 Micah 5:2-6 Hebrews 10:5-10 Psalm 80

Voice is the word that keeps surfacing as I study these passages.
Micah has a voice that cries out:
²But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. ³Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. (NRSV)
The writer of Hebrews has a voice that cries out:
He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.(NRSV)
In a post-exilic voice, the Psalmist cries out
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Elizabeth cries out
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 

⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

A baby leaping in the womb? How does that feel? Well, like nothing else. One of my children was extremely sensitive to loud noises in utero. She jumped. And that is a strange feeling to feel a person jump that has no where to go. Baby John jumped. He felt the vibes coming from Baby Jesus; the tremor only just beginning; the agitation before the quake; the distant thunder before the downpour. Baby John felt all of that. And Elizabeth in the wisdom of her years knew...in that moment.
And she spoke to Mary; her beloved cousin...

Blessed is she who believed
It is one thing to be chosen.
It is another thing to believe.
Thee would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. Were there times before the morning sickness hit that she wondered if the angel's visit had only been an apparition? A fleeting dream....?

It is still another to be willing to do the task to which God has called.

as she awoke one early morning running for the door did it hit her? The promise was fulfilled IN HER.

Did her mother watch, judging? Listening to Mary in those wee hours, did she question her?

And Mary has done both. She has believed. And she has done. 

Could she have refused? 

It seems that God allows free choice. 

I read once that perhaps God had visited many young women before Mary and none had been willing. Who knows?
But Mary was willing. "May it be to me as you have said."

But the loudest most joyous cry of all comes from the mouth of Mary:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 

⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

⁴⁸for he has looked with favor 

on the lowliness of his servant.

How could it be favor when she faced persecution? 

The flowing-like-honey song we call the Magnificat 
(Latin for "My soul magnifies") 
proclaims 

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 

⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me, 

and holy is his name.

 ⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him 

from generation to generation.

 ⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; 

he has scattered the proud 

in the thoughts of their hearts. 

⁵²He has brought down the powerful

 from their thrones, 

and lifted up the lowly; 

⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, 

and sent the rich away empty. 

⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,

 in remembrance of his mercy, 

⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

 to Abraham and 

to his descendants forever.” 

I keep reading of those who want to emphasize the past tenses (aorist for those who studied Greek) 
of this song.

We cannot get around the grammar. 

He has shown strength

He has scattered

He has brought down

He has filled

He has helped

We know that God has done these things. 

But we know that he is doing these things and that he will continue to do these things. Because we know the Baby was born and brought much to pass.
Mary does not know this yet. 

but she does know. 
Or she would not sing.

But the voices around us cry out the opposite
The world is ending. 
Mary lived in a world controlled by the violence of the Roman empire. Pax Romana, meaning peace of Rome came at the price of soldiers enforcing at any cost. 

How could she believe this? Wasn't her nation under occupation?
What powerful thrones had God brought down? 

Weren't there still hungry people in the world? 
Aren't there today?

But this song proclaims that God has already brought down the powerful.

He has lifted up the lowly. 


He shows that by having the greatest song of all sung by a poor young woman from a tiny town, pregnant with the greatest gift the world has ever received.

A Voice! Advent 4 C Luke 1:39-56 Micah 5:2-6 Hebrews 10:5-10

My friend had a baby last week.
My heart leaped for joy when I heard that this precious bundle had arrived. 
Mary and Elizabeth were close.
And they shared the joy of expecting babies at the same time.
Elizabeth, an old married woman who had hoped for so long to bear a child;
 Mary, a young woman who had not even dreamed it would happen so soon.
 Both waiting for their babies, talking, speculating, planning for the future.
Did they sit and knit and sew baby clothes?
Did they discuss diapers and feedings and plans?
Did they have any idea what their sons would be like? What they would do?
How they would preach?
They could not have known. For now, they sit, they wait, they feel joy.
Mary's heart was not pierced with the sword yet
But still she fretted. What would Joseph do? What would he say?
The story of Joseph's acceptance of the baby news is not in Luke;
We read it in Matthew.
When we read Luke, we have poetic license to wonder.
Did she tell him before or after she visited her cousin?
Did she just let him see the baby belly when she returned to Nazareth?
How did he respond?

But then I think, could a woman so afraid of being publicly shamed have sung such a song?
Was her heart 'right'? Was her faith deep enough to believe that all would be well?

The lack of Joseph's voice goes along with the lack of Zachariah's as he has lost his voice for his doubt.
This leads us to perceive the greatest story ever with its beginnings in the wombs of two women.
Women have no voice in first century Judaism.
Women are to be silent.
Women cannot speak in public; not even to a family member.
Women have to walk a certain number of paces behind a man.
Any self-respecting Jewish man will not touch a woman in public as any one who might be bleeding is considered unclean...and well, you never know if women are bleeding.

But God has chosen to announce the birth of HIS SON with the voice of a woman;
Yes, we have heard the voice of an angel.
But now we hear the voice of a woman; a young woman; probably a young teen
And she responds to the voice of an old woman; 'past child bearing age.'

The older woman who gives birth to the prophet represents the past.
The young woman who gives birth to the savior represents the future.