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Wholeness and holiness manifest spiritual integrity, as
God’s power is revealed by the gift of faith as much as
by the physical healing of the sick (2 Kings 5:14-17).
But though many experience the munificence of divine
goodness, not as many come around to express gratitude
to the benefactor (Luke17:11-19).
A
foreigner seeking a cure
The
Hebrew word tzara’at is traditionally translated as
“leprosy.” Without the benefit of modern microbiology,
this biblical term generally refers to the scale-like
eruptions of the skin in humans, in certain symptoms
like psoriasis and vitiligo, but not consistent with
what is today called leprosy or Hansen’s disease. Also,
since it afflicts even fabrics and building materials
like mildew, tzara’at cannot be identified with a single
pathology (Leviticus 13).
Naaman,
a very successful commander of the Aramean (Syrian) army
and afflicted with “leprosy,” was told by his wife of an
Israelite slave girl’s information about the healing
power of a prophet in Samaria. Naaman’s dermatological
problem clearly did not disfigure him or disqualify him
from military office.
When
Naaman relayed the gladdening news to his lord, the King
of Aram (Benhadad II) sent his precious general to the
King of Israel (Jehoram) with a letter that his courtier
be cured of leprosy. Terrified that the Syrians were
just seeking a pretext against him, the king of tiny
Israel could only blurt out, “Am I God, to deal death or
give life . . . to cure a man of leprosy?”
Coming
to faith
Hearing
of the king’s despair, the prophet Elisha asked that the
general be sent to him so that “he will learn that there
is a prophet in Israel.” Without even facing the Syrian,
the man of God sent him instructions to wash himself in
the Jordan. The simplistic and nondramatic remedy
proposed and the lack of awe for his stature almost sent
the enraged Naaman riding back home. But he did
acquiesce eventually at his servants’ pleadings and
bathed in the Jordan and was cured.
Naaman,
a man of power in the world of might and influence,
became aware of the superior authority of the God at
work in Elisha. And he decided to worship the Lord,
convinced that “there is no God in the whole world
except in Israel!”
He
returned and stood before the prophet, and as his gifts
were refused, he asked to be given two mule-loads of
earth, for he thought that though God is universal, He
might be worthily worshipped only on the soil of His
chosen land.
Returning full of gratitude
Tzara’at,
or “leprosy,” as a gradual erosion of the skin was
thought by the Jews to culminate unless healed in the
disintegration of the flesh and the ultimate escape of
life. This leakage of life makes the afflicted person
potentially dead and creates impurity. Such impurity
must not spread to the sanctuary, hence the priests were
commanded to distinguish the pure from the impure.
If the
lesion was tzara’at, the leprous person must stay away,
and expiation prescribed. When the affliction is healed,
the priests declare the person pure and purification
rituals completed.
The 10
lepers outside a town proper who begged for Jesus’s help
in their affliction knew of His extraordinary power. He
instructed them to show themselves to the priests for
formal certification of what they were hoping for. As
they followed His command, they were cleansed of their
disease.
One of
them, a Samaritan, realizing that he was healed,
returned to Jesus overflowing with gratitude, the
attitude proper toward divine goodness. This
manifestation of the universality of God’s blessings of
wholeness and healing, which included the despised
Samaritan, underlines as well the paradox of a foreigner
connecting with Jesus much better than the others from
God’s own chosen people.
And the
evangelist pointedly contrasts the difference between
being miraculously cured and being saved. A responsible
faith is the context for salvation, an ailment for a
cure. “Go, your faith has saved you,” Jesus told the
Samaritan.
Alálaong
bagá,
the Samaritan believed, that is why his cure led to his
being saved, to his being integrally healed body and
soul. It was only the initial instance of wonder when
the 10 lepers,and Naaman, were miraculously cured.
Another
and deeper wonder is the coming to faith on the part of
the Samaritan and of the Syrian. The acknowledgment of
God’s loving graciousness, through the prophet or
through Jesus, became an experience of salvation beyond
the physical cure. Responding to God in faith is
entering into a saving relationship with Him. “Were not
all 10 made whole? Where are the other nine?”
Countless people pray and beg for wonders in their cure
and wholeness in this natural world of ailments and
disintegration, but evidently not all who experience
relief and healing really find their way to a communion
with God in faith and joyous gratefulness.
The
ultimate grace is when all cures fade away, as they must
and eventually do, and one finds the sought-after
completeness only in God.
For more of my reflections and works, visit my blogsite:
http://alalaongbaga.multiply.com. |
