The Lutheran church here in Alsace has a liturgy and church year quite similar to what we’re used to in the U.S. In fact, liturgy is one of the best ways to start learning a foreign language: the rhythms and vocabulary are so similar that your comprehension is much higher than in, say, the grocery store or the prefect’s office. So far the biggest difference in practice is that we celebrated Transfiguration two weeks ago: instead of being the last Sunday before Lent begins, here there are three more Sundays after it, culminating in “Invocavit Sunday,” still named for the opening words of the Psalm for the day in Latin. (Luther preached a series of famous Invocavit sermons on his return to Wittenberg from the Wartburg.)

But we really knew we were on familiar liturgical territory over here a few weeks ago when the Old Testament lesson delivered unto us, yet again, the story of Naaman the Syrian. It appears twice in the 3-year lectionary, in the Epiphany season of Year B and in the “time after Pentecost” of Year C. Perhaps it is the unusually tedious sermons I’ve usually heard preached on it, but it seems to come round even more often than that. You know the drill: an outsider twice over, not an Israelite and infected with leprosy, seeks healing from the God of Israel; he takes offense that it’s so easy; but then he washes seven times anyway and voila! All is well. The culmination of sermons on this pericope, as I have generally heard them, is sanctimonious comments on inclusivity and a charge to have simplistic faith in the simple solutions God offers, if only we would accept them.

There is nothing like the whole hard biblical story to cut the crap. The story of Naaman continues in II Kings 5—not that we ever hear it in the lectionary. I hope the preachers who read this blog might see fit to tell the whole story when they deliver their sermons on Naaman again next summer. And I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity: if so, here is instant gratification.

“Then [Naaman] returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, ‘Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.’ But he said, ‘As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.’ And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Then Naaman said, ‘If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules’ load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.’ He said to him, ‘Go in peace.’

“But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, ‘See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.’ So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, ‘Is all well?’ And he said, ‘All is well. My master has sent me to say, “There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.”’ And Naaman said, ‘Be pleased to accept two talents.’ And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.

“He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, ‘Where have you been, Gehazi?’ And he said, ‘Your servant went nowhere.’ But he said to him, ‘Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.’ So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.” (ESV)