Tag: naaman

Pondering for Thursday, December 18, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 50; Evening, Psalm 60;

Zechariah 4:1 to 14; Revelation 4:9 to 5:5; Matthew 25:1 to 13:

“The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep.”  (Zechariah 4:1)

Our readings from Zechariah and Revelation speak of angels and their ongoing relationship with us as they carry out God’s will.  Zechariah, like Jacob and Elijah and Joseph were awakened by angels as one is wakened from sleep.  It occurs to me that sleep may just be a metaphor for ignorance.

I believe God still allows angels to be made known in our lives to move us or shift us in the direction that God wants us to travel.  Sometimes such angels may be two or three people away. For example, an angel may influence a friend of yours to ask you something that in turn causes you to act or respond in a way that is pleasing to God.  In such a case we waste time, and God’s blessing, if we judge the message by who is bringing it.  We must be attentive to what the question or message is, not the messenger.  Or, maybe, it could be an angel after all!

There are several places in the Bible where the one who is helpful is not named but makes all the difference in the outcome. I will share two, both from Second Kings where we read, “Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.  She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy,”” (2 Kings 5: 2 – 3).  And again, “Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (2 Kings 5: 13).  In both cases unnamed persons intervene to assist in curing Naaman of his leprosy.  Are they angels?  Only God knows.

In the reading from Revelation today we have an angel asking the question. “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (Revelation 5:2)  Angels always seem to be connecting with us in our thin places, that is, as we are in prayer, or dreaming, or otherwise letting go of earthly business. The angel in the Revelation that John received speaks for the “One sitting on the throne.”  Angels are both messengers, and when necessary, correctors of the human experience as may be best for us and is pleasing to God. Angels don’t arrive, they appear. They are already here!  Do you know whether or not you have had an angelic experience? Don’t expect wings; thank you artists, but scripture doesn’t support wings.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O God Almighty, sender of angels for our benefit to lead us and guide us, let Your Holy Spirit be in us as well in order that we might discern and receive Your holy messengers and continue in ways that are pleasing in Your sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 20: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 78:1 to 39; Evening, Psalm 78:40 to 72;
2nd Kings 5:19 to 27; 1 Corinthians 5:1 to 8; Matthew 5:27 to 37:

“Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, ‘My master has let that Aramean Naaman off too lightly by not accepting from him what he offered. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something out of him.” (2nd Kings 5:20)

Instead of leaving the decision of Elisha as it was, regarding payment by Naaman, Gehazi goes after more. He is greedy and he wants to see Naaman pay more dearly. This is sad.  And, he doesn’t get away with it.  Elisha informs him upon his return, “Did I not go with you in spirit when someone left his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money and to accept clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?” (2nd Kings 5:26).  And therefore, Elisha put the leprosy on Gehazi. It seems that something must be passed on to those who follow us, good or ill.

Gehazi followed a short line of Prophets beginning with Elijah.  The spirit was passed on to Elisha.  Perhaps with prayer, God would have endowed Gehazi in the same way. But Gehazi was selfish, revengeful and not given to the real care of community or proper godly etiquette.

When we follow worthy mentors, we must examine their conduct very carefully. We should not second guess them if found to be good people.  If we don’t agree with their way of life, then perhaps it would be better to move to another mentor.

The power of the prophet is not destroyed, it is passed on. But the recipient must be worthy; that is, loving, understanding, selfless and obedient, given to prayer and real concern for the care of his or her community.  These traits are what will enable the protégé to become a mentor one day.  That is, they will discipline themselves to live, listen, love, learn, and finally, to lead, as others have done who have gone on before.

Today we remember Thecla of Iconium (70), and her information may be found at:Thecla

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:                                            

Heavenly Creator, be with us as we live and learn each day and help us to listen to, and respect the instruction of those whom you have placed before us as mentors and examples of righteous living, as was our Lord Jesus of Nazareth, in whose Name we pray: Amen.

Pondering for Monday, September 22, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 20: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 80; Evening, Psalm 77;
2nd Kings 5:1 to 19; 1st Corinthians 4:8 to 21; Matthew 5:21 to 26:

“But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, ‘I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy:” (2nd Kings 5:11).

I will deal with Naaman in a moment. But for now let us go back and see the unnamed girl who informed Naaman’s wife, and therefore Naaman, about the existence of Elisha the Prophet of God. She is another unnamed prophet of the Bible. There are a few such women who get no recognition.

Now for Naaman. How often do we also ask God to “fix” something only in the way we want it done?  Naaman already had in his mind what to expect from Elisha, even though he didn’t even know Elisha existed until he was told by his slave girl.  So too we also often pray for specific outcomes from God. We want God to cure ourselves, or a relative rather than just say “God’s will be done,”  and ask for divine intervention in whatever way God sees fit.  I can recall our past Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, saying, the best we can pray to God is to just say to God, “Help.”  And then let God take it from there. 

There is often a requirement for us to participate in the response from God just as Naaman was told to go and wash seven times. Sometimes we are asked to spend time with the response we are seeking while not knowing what that response will look like.  It also serves us well to see that God will use those among us to inform us about how we should interpret what is happening to us. In our story today, one in the company of Naaman makes him realize that had it been something difficult he would not have hesitated to do it, yet he questioned washing seven times in unknown waters. We ask because we don’t know. If we don’t know then we should be prepared to accept the divine response when, and how, and from whom, it comes.

God loves us and the Holy Spirit of God will often speak through sometimes unnamed, or even very close persons, to help us. All we have to do is listen, not second guess, and respond as told to do. God will take it from there.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Today we remember Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (September 21) and his information may be found at: St. Matthew

Let us pray:

O Almighty and Ever-loving God, You always care for us in ways we are not always aware of. Increase our trust in Your goodness and make us sensible to Your efforts in those you send to us for the sake of Your eternal love. Amen.