WwtW: God shows Himself in His healing action

Bible Study notes for OT C, Wk 28.

2^nd Reading:  2 Kings 5:14-17

Context.          Kings (one book that got divided because it was too long for one scroll) is the completion of the history of Israel, from the giving of the Law in Deuteronomy, ending with the Exile.  It is theological history: not history in a modern, or even classical Greek, sense, but an act of preaching that seeks to answer the question, “given what we know about what happened, what was God’s role in this?”  God gave the Law, the Land, the Kingship, the Priests and the Prophets to guide his people and is displeased when they reject his gifts.  Our story is part of a sequence of ten wonder-stories, showing the power of the prophet Elisha.  Naaman is a foreign commander suffering from a skin disease whose wife sends him to Elisha.  Rather than see him directly, Elisha sends a messenger telling him to wash seven times in the Jordan.

Interpretation. As a result of his healing, Naaman is able to come to faith in God.  It is through the unimpressiveness of Israel’s major river that he discovers the mighty power of God.  Worship is the natural response to his new conviction of monotheism, even though that response is often thwarted in others.  He is concerned about whether or not he can worship the God of Israel on foreign soil (he doesn’t stop being Syrian), so wants to literally take some of Israel’s soil with him.  This is an earthy, tangible way to make physical his new commitment.  Elisha will consent to this, and wish him peace.

Gospel:           Luke 17:11-19

Context.           We come to the final stretch of Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:48; Wks 13-31), with a section (17:11-19:27, Wks 28-31).  This section summarizes what Jesus has taught previously on the journey and invites response.  Appropriate response will not be found from the disciples, who are as lacking in understanding as they were at the start of the journey.  Instead, the appropriate response is found in a leper, a widow, some children, and a tax collector. 

Interpretation.  It’s been a while in Luke’s gospel since we’ve had a healing.  Typically, the response is that people glorify God – that Jesus gets the thanks here is a significant statement of Christology.  Lepers would have completely ostracized from society as unclean.  The priests functioned as “purity inspectors” who could restore them to social status.  All were cleansed, but only one recognizes it.  The others walk on to the priests trusting in Jesus’ power as a healer; the one is not just healed but has a recovery of sight – in seeing himself as healed, he can see God in Jesus so goes to “something greater than the Temple,” Jesus himself.

Questions

1.      Compare and contrast: how is Jesus like Elisha; how is he different?  Luke already has Jesus refer to this story in his first sermon in Galilee. We’re meant to make this comparison. What is Luke trying to communicate about Jesus from it?

2.      Are we on the look-out for healing?  How do we expect it to happen?  How has God surprised us?

3.      What are some ways of saying thank you to God?  Of offering sacrifice?  Of making this physical? 

4.      Naaman is concerned he won’t be able to find God outside of Israel.  Some people can’t find God outside of Church (their faith doesn’t permeate their lives).  What can we “carry away” from Mass each week (/day)?

5.      What other gods might we be tempted to worship?