Naaman of the Old Testament story and the leper of the Gospel had two things in common. They both suffered from the terrible disease of leprosy and they both wanted to be healed. There, the similarities ended. Naaman was proud, the Leper was humble. Naaman trusted in his own power; the Leper turned to Jesus.

     Actually the contrast is so great that it is almost humorous, or at least I’ve always found Naaman’s story laughable. In it we have servants telling their masters what to do, enemy kings doing one another’s bidding, and a river that does not measure up. Let’s take another look at the story.

     Namaan is the chief commander of Israel’s enemy’s army; he comes out of a recent conflict with more prestige and an Israelite girl as booty. He would be on the top of the world except for one thing; he has leprosy, a highly contagious disease that causes the one who has it to become an outcast.

     In the first instance of servants telling their master what to do, the captured Hebrew slave girl tells her mistress about a wonder-working prophet of the Lord in her homeland. So, the wife speaks to her husband, and the husband goes to the king, who writes a letter to his enemy, the king of Israel, requesting a cure for the commander.

     Thinking such a cure is impossible, and that this is a set-up for an unprovoked attack and political disaster, the King of Israel is distraught. So, the Prophet Elisha intervenes, and Naaman comes for the cure with horses and chariots and a treasure trove of gifts. But Naaman is not treated like the esteemed commander of legions he is. He deserves a personal audience with the prophet and a display of prophetic power, not a secondhand, servant-delivered message. And, the content of that message adds insult to injury; he is told to bathe in the muddy trickle of the Jordan River. If it was just a matter of washing in the river, he should have waded into the far superior ones at home! So, he turns away in a rage, ego in tact.

     Once again, the servants save the day. Namaan did want to be healed, didn’t he? True, a more strenuous command by the prophet would have seemed more worthy, but perhaps such effort is not required. Wouldn’t it make sense to put pride aside and just do it? So, no doubt cringing the entire time, Naaman walks into the Jordan’s water seven times and comes out clean, healed, although perhaps still full of himself, for all we know.

     The Gospel lesson has an entirely different tone to it. That’s obvious from the first line: “A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Immediately two things happen; Jesus is filled with compassion. Please notice, it’s compassion, not judgment. He doesn’t say, “What have you done to cause this to happen.” He shows compassion, not reprimand. He doesn’t say, “Stop embarrassing yourself on your knees, and what’s more, keep your distance.” He speaks kindly, not with a demand saying, “What will you do with your life if I heal you?” Then, Jesus touches this man with the contagious disease. He could have held with a word, a gesture, or with a command, but instead he reaches out and touches him. (1)  Immediately the leprosy leaves him and he is made clean.

     So, Jesus tells him to do what was required by the law so that he could be declared clean and no longer an outcast. Other than that, though, he is sternly told to tell no one how he was healed. I guess the excitement got the better of him because he spreads the word about Jesus’ healing touch.

     Now, we do not know why Jesus asked him to be silent, but perhaps it was because he knew such a testimony would make it difficult for him to continue preaching and healing freely. Indeed, that’s what happened; Jesus traded places with this man – losing his freedom to go into a town openly as the healed man found became more free to go where he wished. Jesus did it out of love, and love costs.

     As I began my sermon I said that Naaman and the Leper had two things in common, but actually there are three, not only do they both have leprosy and both want to be healed, they both are healed. Just think, if Naaman had not been cured he probably would have returned home thinking the God of Israel was powerless. If the Leper had not been healed he might have thought Jesus was a fraud. But that’s not what happened. One made it more difficult than the other, but they both experience new life because God is willing and eager to embrace us in healing, forgiveness and grace.

     That’s true for us too; to put it simply, we can either balk at receiving God’s grace or we can openly receive it, with gratitude. Which is better? Well, in terms of emotional strain, energy expended and witness offered to others, it seems that the Leper’s way tops Naaman’s way. But, either way, grace arrives.

     What in the world does that mean, you might be asking. It’s a good question, since what I’m getting at is not easily explained. Let’s say there are two roads to the same place. One is considered easier to travel than the other. However, to set out on the easier one requires more trust because it’s not possible to see very far down it. Also, although help is guaranteed, no one knows in advance when or how that help will appear. The road that is considered more difficult has fewer unknowns and encourages self-reliance.

     Many people, including me at times, choose the more difficult road because, like Naaman, we think we know what is best, or correct, and so we struggle along on our own, sometimes even turning our backs on help when it comes if it does not fit our plan. Others choose the easier road, even with its unknowns, because like the Leper they are able to trust in Jesus and are confident in his leading.

     Frederick C. Edwards tells a story about the death of his older sister when he was a young boy. As he struggled with grief, Frederick’s father took the more difficult road of self-reliance and threw himself into his work. One Saturday he took his young son out to the orchard to work with him; several times he was overcome by the loss, so it was a long day.

    On the way home they stopped to see an old woman, a long-time family friend, who lived with her daughter on a near-by farm. She was older than Frederick’s grandmother and spent most of her time rocking and knitting. She was not well educated and she spoke with a slow, Alabama drawl. She certainly was not trained to help people deal with their grief.

     Yet, when they went in, she seemed to know what to do. Somehow his father felt free to pour out his grief to her, and she held him, talked quietly to them both, and prayed. It was simple, but it was enough. The connection was restored, Frederick wrote, and the healing power of the presence of God flowed once again. While their loved one could not be restored, there was healing of the inner life that made it possible to bear up under the burden.

     So, we can be like Naaman and take the harder road of self-reliance, or we can be like the Leper who was on the easier road of trust. The amazing thing is that in both cases Jesus is present and in both cases healing can happen. Is one better than the other? Maybe, in terms of our own wear and tear, although the people involved are the same to God. Either way, GRACE arrives. AMEN
       
(1) “Four Words” by David Lose, 2-5-12, www.workingpreacher.org
(2) Why Don’t You Send Somebody? by Frederick C. Edwards, 1993 by the Css Publishing Company, Lima, OH., pg. 103.