As many of you are aware (and are probably very bored of hearing) I was brought up on stories from the Old Testament. I often feel that we do not take enough notice of the writings about the Prophets and Kings of the centuries before Jesus.
Therefore, I was very pleased when, at the last Deanery Eucharist, the principal speaker, Canon Dr. Peter Wilcox, Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, devoted his address to the story of Naaman (2Kings Ch.5 vv 1-19). His light, and often humorous, talk brought the story to life as he expounded on the four most important characters – Naaman, Elisha, the King of Israel and the King of Aram. He talked about their strengths and their position in the hierarchies of the day and how each had been well blessed up to that point. It was Naaman’s leprosy which brought an unbeliever to the presence of God’s great prophet Elisha. The story goes on to tell how Elisha used his power from God to cure him of the leprosy (and how the disease was passed onto Elisha’s greedy servant - vv19 -27).
Yet this was a time when God’s favour towards the Jews was decidedly shaky since they had, once again, broken his covenant. It was left to a young servant girl to remember God’s amazing power manifested through his prophets. The most insignificant person in the story had kept her faith, even though she was a captive, and through her Naaman was directed to Elisha and his subsequent cure.
This story, and many like it in the Old Testament, reminds me that ours is not just a faith kept by the important people of the day but that it is in each one of us.
At this time of great debate and confusion within the Anglican Communion let us remember that faith is not restricted to Archbishops, Bishops or even parish clergy, it is us, the ordinary people who are the bedrock of faith.
God bless,
John.
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