Word to the Wise
Monday, February 25, 2008 - Monday in the Third Week of Lent
[2 Kings 5:1-15AB and Luke 4:24-30][Naaman's] servants came up and reasoned with him, "My father," they said, "if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, 'Wash and be clean,' should you do as he said." So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 MONDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT [Kings 5:1-15AB and Luke 4:24-30] [Naaman's] servants came up and reasoned with him, "My father," they said, "if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, 'Wash and be clean,' should you do as he said." So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. In the gospel scripture today, Jesus commends the faith of Naaman the Syrian in contrast to that of his hometown folks! I take comfort in that commendation because it is clear that Naaman was not without his resistance to the ways of God! Oh, he believed Elisha could heal him, but he had expectations of his own about how that should be done. He was a big and important man so he expected to bathe in a big and important river! The Jordan was like a bayou compared to the Mississippi River-sized waters of his own land. But it was the Jordan Bayou that healed him. As I turn 65 today, I feel keenly the challenge in Naaman's story. Am I willing to let go of my expectations of what I want to do for God or God to do for me? Is the Lord expecting BIGGER things or, as in the case of Naaman, less than extraordinary ways that might be contrary to what I want to do? Who might be the Elisha (or Elijah, too) directing me to the Jordan Bayou? Who might be the friends with the practical advice that Naaman's servants had to offer. (Being a military man, he should have known to follow orders!) I am confident that Elijah and friends will send me in the right direction even if I mutter and sputter a bit about it! I am grateful to God for them all! AMEN
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