True Healing

It would have been very interesting to hear Dane on Friday night during the 'Roe. vs. Rage' protest to yell out, "The kingdom of God!" and the crowd respond, "has come near!" "The kingdom of God!" "Has come near!" "The kingdom of God!" "Has come near!" The word 'kingdom' can also mean empire, nation, economy which can be a direct protest against an empire, laws, or the hoarding of wealth. In Jesus' time, it is the Roman Empire that rules much of the land and people around the Mediterranean Sea. To proclaim that God's Empire has come near is to say that the Roman Empire is not in charge anymore. And if a village to which they were sent is uncomfortable, unwilling, or loyal to the Romans, the two disciples would just move on to the next one without any further ado. 

Unfortunately, there are too many people in our country who believe that the kingdom of God is actually the United States of America and we are God's chosen nation and people and their interpretation of the Bible, the way of living, and unfettered capitalism is the way of the kingdom and the way of God. It would be nice if we wouldn't have to talk about politics and all the things that are going on in the world that just seems too much, but, however, non-the-less, it is very Biblical to talk about politics, rulers, laws, economic systems, and how people are treated and free or not. 

We can look at the story in 2 Kings which we read. As we know, in the Hebrew, or Prime, Testament, there are lots of wars going on all the time and that seems to take center story for much of its history, which is the same in our history of the United States, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish War, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, 1st Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, and all our our 'peace-keeping' skirmishes that have been kept our country in a constant state of war for much of our history. During our story in 2 Kings, Israel finds itself in a war with Aram, which is a summer activity for most of the tribes and countries of that time. It seems Naaman is a particularly good leader and general and has captured some villages or families of Israel. As good as he is as a soldier, Naaman is said to suffer from leprosy. Back then, leprosy could mean just a bad case of acne or a skin rash to literally leprosy. Since he is fighting, it may be the worst of it. However, he is physically sick and probably more and more isolated and excluded because of his disease. It is a slave of his wife who tells her that her prophet, Elisha, can heal him. She is believed and Naaman sends a gift to Israel's king presumably in exchange for healing. Even though they are at war, they must not be mortal enemies as Naaman and the slave girl believe that Elisha is able to meet with him and heal him. The drama of the story speaks for itself in the king believing this cannot happen and he will be held personally liable and punished if Naaman isn't healed and Naaman once offered a cure by dipping himself in the Jordan River seven times balks at it because he wants the 'show' of bells and whistles or a great quest. But, he is talked into giving it a try and it works. We really don't hear much about him afterward if he changes his heart, follows God, freed his Israeli slaves. We cannot help to believe that he is changed in some significant ways, not just cured of the disease. We are shown, however, that God cares for and heals even those who fight against Israel.

Healing is much more than just a curing of a disease. Jesus tells the seventy-two disciples that they are to heal those who are sick while they are out proclaiming, "The Kingdom of God has come near," while they are out spreading the good news as defined by Isaiah there is good news for the poor, the captives, oppressed, and prisoners are set free, and proclaim Jubilee, the forgiveness of debts which Jesus himself proclaims by quoting the prophet Isaiah in chapter four which was his mission statement. Healing could mean physical, mental, and emotional dis-ease, it could mean reconciliation of family, friends, and community which Jesus himself did last week with the Gerasene demoniac. Healing means that the Peace of God, the shalom and harmony resides in our hearts, our families, our communities, the nations, and the world. The way that this is offered is not through coercive evangelism, but with care and attention to what they need, not what we want. If they aren't ready for it, aren't willing to repent, aren't buying what we are selling, then we shake it off and go on to the next village, family, or person.

True healing's foundation is in the love of God, the peace of God, the way of God. True healing is accomplished through justice, not just the punishment of the wrongdoers, but the reconciliation of enemies, of estranged family and citizens of our nation. True healing is letting go of the fear and the need to control and put our energy into peacemaking, feeding, and helping. True healing is seeing our connection and our reliance upon the world and all that lives in it and living in a sustainable way in which all life, not just human life can thrive. 

The kingdom of God has come near when love is present, when peace is accomplished, when balance is restored. Let us offer that in our continued work of being a Just Peace church, of welcoming all into our community, and following Christ who echoes Micah, "What does the Lord, your God, require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with our God." Amen