Epiphany 6B, Launch Into Love
The other day, we happened to be watching Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, and saw him interviewing a doctor, David Agus, who has the idea that vitamins are not actually healthy for us, and that exercising just a half hour a day is absolutely better for us. Jon Stewart asked Dr. Agus why it was that people like him really wanted to pop a pill rather than move… And Dr. Agus mentioned that we all want the “quick fix.”[1] We all want the easy, magical, one quick solution with minimal effort on our part soothes all our woes, outcome. It reminded me of this little video I saw on Facebook a couple of months ago, called “23 ½ Hours,” about how, regardless of weight or pre-existing health conditions, people who move a half hour a day live longer and healthier lives.[2]
In life, solutions, true healing, are often a whole lot slower and take some effort on our part, like that effort that it takes me to try and move daily. And my human nature gets a bit impatient with that, even though I have no complaints—it is much easier for me to move than most!
So we have a lot in common with Naaman, who here in this 2nd Kings story really doesn’t want anything as simple or as athletic as bathing seven times in the Jordan. No siree, he wants to have Elisha come out and wave a wand around his leprosy and cure it all. Yet, what he’s being invited into is a relationship with God, not a display by a wizard, and what he gets is not magic but a miracle.
So we have a lot in common with Naaman, who here in this 2nd Kings story really doesn’t want anything as simple or as athletic as bathing seven times in the Jordan. No siree, he wants to have Elisha come out and wave a wand around his leprosy and cure it all. Yet, what he’s being invited into is a relationship with God, not a display by a wizard, and what he gets is not magic but a miracle.
So there is something to this business of faith that is profoundly not about just sitting or standing there, whether literally or metaphorically, to the extent that we are capable. It’s no surprise then, that the analogy that Paul uses is that of running a race—this was, I have heard, a stock image during Paul’s time, something philosophers used to illustrate a point.[3] And Paul takes it to the next level, arguing that we Christians run a race, but we run a better one, because our prize is not some wilting greens, but true life and true health.[4] In this Gospel passage, Jesus doesn’t just offer the leper a momentary healing, but he restores him to society, to his family, to his health, and to his religion, sending him back to the temple to be restored.
And what does he do? Well the leper tells everyone, just like Jesus told him not to—and that is so human nature… just like Naaman—“oh, that is too easy!” Oh, physical movement is too simple to be the solution, and/or it requires effort—and it is just way too tempting to go tell everybody when someone tells you not to!
And what does he do? Well the leper tells everyone, just like Jesus told him not to—and that is so human nature… just like Naaman—“oh, that is too easy!” Oh, physical movement is too simple to be the solution, and/or it requires effort—and it is just way too tempting to go tell everybody when someone tells you not to!
But the good and fabulous news here is that Jesus’ healing isn’t dependent on the leper behaving himself. We don’t have to be good in order to gain healing, Jesus has already done that healing, and is already continuing that healing in us, when we ask for it. He can’t help himself. His spirit flings itself upon us with healing, not with coercion, but when we ask for it. When I was in seminary, this gospel passage from Mark was one we studied closely in Greek class.
Because that phrase, that “he was moved with pity,” (in some places it says “compassion”), that word, “pity” or “compassion,” is replaced in some ancient manuscripts by “anger.” One way or the other, Jesus is passionate. The word, “splanchnizomai,” means he was literally compelled into action by his love, passion, or even anger.[5] One might say he was launched into loving this leper. And he is launched into loving us when we reach out to him.
So how do we reach out to Jesus?
We start by trying to run our own race, or, using the analogy we will use this Lent, finding our own particular pilgrim walk with Christ.
And this is an intentional walk—Paul is not just punching in the air, as funny an image as that is, but he has purpose, direction. Intentionality. What is the road that Christ is leading each of us on?
One way to learn what that is is to follow the bumbling Naaman’s example, and listen to those that God has placed in your life, even if they are your subordinates or otherwise unlikely counselors. Naaman listens to his servants, and that is his saving grace. What would it mean to listen to those in our lives in case God is speaking to us through them? Who are the unlikely counselors in your life? Your friends? Your family members? Even your children? This can strengthen us for that very fearfully difficult task, listening to Jesus. Yikes, whatever you do, don’t listen to Jesus!
And certainly don’t tell anyone this good news! J
And certainly don’t tell anyone this good news! J
Amen!
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