YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU

XXVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME:

The story of Naaman

This Sunday we hear the story of Naaman, the foreigner dignitary, who was healed by the prophet Elisha. It is an interesting story.

Naaman was an influential man with a very important position of leadership in his country, but he suffered from a terrible and incurable disease, leprosy, which would make of him an outcast. However, in spite of the prevalent attitudes towards lepers, he was not stigmatised, keeping his position and having a friendly relationship with the king. 

By an israelite girl, taken as prisoner of war, he came to know about the prophet of God Elisha, who was seen as a healer. Naaman thought of him as one healer more, who would act like all other traditional healers. Sick people with incurable diseases are always looking for alternatives that may relieve their pain. And Naaman did not waste time, putting himself on the road to Israel. 

The prophet's behaviour was surprising or even strange. He did not touch the patient or talk to him and even refused to see him, making it very clear by his behaviour that he could not be compared with all other healers.   He behaved as if he did not care, and made no use of any magical means, ordering through a messenger that he goes and takes a bath seven times in the river Jordan.

Naaman was healed by his obedience to the prophet’s orders

Annoyed, Naaman decided to go back home, despising the prophet's instructions, convinced that the waters of the river Jordan were not better than the waters of any other river. His servants and friends had to plea with him to give it a try, since it was not a difficult thing to do. In the end, Naaman realised that he was not cured by the waters, but by God, through his prophet. His healing was an affirmation of God's existence and power. The only participation required from Naaman was an attitude of trust and obedience, that is faith.

Saved by faith

Indeed, the healing of the body led Naaman to faith in the true God. Naaman was a foreigner, a pagan who was able to recognise God's presence and action. In a similar way, the Gospel presents the story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. From the whole group, only one - the Samaritan one - recognised God’s mercy and went back to Jesus to give thanks. And to him Jesus said: “Your faith has saved you” (Lk 17:19).

This makes it very clear that one may be physically healed without being touched in his heart and without changing his attitude and relationship towards God. One needs an open heart and a listening mind to recognise God’s presence and action in his life. Only then can we accept God’s love and be ready to answer him with love and thanksgiving.