October 13, 2019
Once, the Pharisees – who were lovers of money, but not lovers of Jesus – said to him, “So, this kingdom of yours – where do we look for it? And when will it come?” (Luke 17:20)
Jesus shot back, “You can’t point to a calendar and say, ‘That’s the day!’ And you won’t see it coming down the road. Why? Because even now God’s kingdom is within you!”
The coming of the kingdom is not a matter of future expectation. Nor is it a matter looking to the horizon for something that is approaching. The kingdom of God is now. And the kingdom of God is here.
But what does Jesus mean when he says, “The kingdom of God is within you.” Does he mean that it is, as some translators say, “among you,” within your community? Or is it literally within you – inside each one of you?
I think it is both. And I think today’s gospel story can be read either way.
Jesus was traveling the border land between home territory and enemy territory. Along the way, he came upon ten who suffered from the most dreaded skin disease – leprosy. As required by the law of Moses, they kept their distance from any who might pass by. Still, they called out, “Jesus! Master! Show us mercy!”
Jesus heard them. He saw them. He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” For this is what was required by law of Moses after a cleansing from leprosy, so they could be approved to rejoin the community. And, on their way, they were cleansed!
One of the them saw what had happened. He turned. He praised God. He knelt at Jesus’ feet. And he gave thanks. Now this particular one was not a Galilean. He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the others? Why was it only this foreigner who has praised God?”
Then he said to the man, “Get up and go. Your faith has saved you.”
Much comparing has been done between the one and the nine. Often the nine are denigrated in some way. They are criticized as less faithful or less grateful. Yet, the nine not only do what the law requires. They also do as Jesus commands. They show they have faith because they trust Jesus enough to do what he says. They are not to be faulted. The point of the story is not to show how ungrateful they are.
The point of the story, I believe, is so that Jesus can draw attention to the faith of this foreigner, this apostate. It is so the disciples can see that the one they assume could not possibly have faith is the one who very obviously does have faith. It is this Samaritan who fulfills the first and greatest commandment – Love the Lord your God with your whole heart and mind and soul and strength.
Back in chapter 10, we hear the story of another Samaritan. There was once a man who was set upon by bandits, robbed, beaten and left to die by side of the road. Two highly religious people from Jerusalem pass by on the other side. But a man from Samaria – another supposed infidel – came to his aid, and, in the words of Jesus, “proved a neighbor to the man.” It was a Samaritan who fulfills the second great commandment that is like the first – love your neighbor as yourself.
In both cases, it is the one that Jesus’ listeners and particularly his disciples would have considered the least likely to have shown faith in God and love toward neighbor. Yet he is the one who did.
This is where we see the kingdom. When we see faith in one in whom we least expect it – one in whom we might consider a difficult person, a problem person, even an enemy – that is the kingdom of God appearing in our midst, among us.
So, how is it then that we can see the kingdom of God within each one of us, in our own hearts?
For that, we can look at exactly at what the Samaritan does. Luke carefully delineates his actions. There are five things that he did: He saw. He turned. He praised God. He knelt. He gave thanks.
He saw – We cannot give thanks without first seeing. If we are moving so fast toward the next thing or focused so steadfastly on what we think we have to get done right now, we will never see. You could say that the Samaritan practiced mindfulness, to use a very modern word. But, whatever you call it, you can’t give thanks for what you don’t notice. So, also with us. First, take time for noticing. Take time to see.
He turned – There is an inner action that follows noticing and precedes praise. It is a turning to the One who is the source of all good gifts. It is an inner acknowledgement that this did not happen out of our own effort and somehow by its own accord, but rather arises from the source of all benevolence. Second, then, after seeing, turn away from yourself to the true Source.
He praised – This inner turning expresses itself first in praise. Praise is not about the specific thing that is accomplished. It is simply about one’s relationship with God. Praise is not so much about gratitude as it is about love, and love needs no reason for praise. Out of all that this Samaritan does, it is praise which is mentioned by Jesus. “Why did no one else praise God, except this foreigner?” After seeing and turning, give praise to God.
He knelt – Kneeling is an act of humility. When something wonderful happens – something that is not of our doing or our deserving – the very proper, very natural response is to bow our heads to the ground. It is not an act of groveling, but an act of reverence for wonder. Fourth, bow your heads, every chance you get. It doesn’t take a miracle. Bow your head to whatever you see, to the person you are with.
He gave thanks – At last, the Samaritan gives thanks. He expresses his gratitude for the specific action that has brought him healing from disease, release from suffering, and the freedom to rejoin his loved ones and continue his life. Finally, say, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
He saw. He turned. He praised. He knelt. He gave thanks.
Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you!” Jesus acknowledges the faith of this one for whom faith is thought to be impossible. This supposed faithless one demonstrates faith for us all in seeing and turning and praising and kneeling and giving thanks.
This is his faith. This is our faith. And this too is the kingdom, when it happens in us. The kingdom of God is within you, among you, in your middle, in your midst.
This is the profound faith of a foreigner. But what happens when we feel like we are in foreign territory? When we feel miles and miles away from God’s presence? When we feel as though we are that leper, disconnected from life and love ones?
What can we do to see and turn and praise and kneel and give thanks?
I believe our first reading from II Kings provides a lesson.
This story too concerns another foreign leper. But this man was warrior and a leader of men. His name was Naaman. He was a general in the army of the king of Syria. And, not to be mistaken about who really is in control, we are told that the Lord God of Israel gave him many victories over the Israel.
During one such victory, Naaman captured a young girl from Israel whom he took as a slave in his own house. This young girl brings not only her service, but her witness. “If only my master would go to Israel, because there is a prophet in Israel who can cure him of his leprosy!”
Naaman, of course, was eager for a cure. First, though, he had to go through all the proper diplomatic channels. The kings – those who were thought to be in power – nearly made a mess of the whole deal. It was all about to become another war until the prophet intervened. Elisha sent word to the king of Israel to send the general to him.
When Naaman set out, he did not go empty handed. He was a wealthy man. He had been richly rewarded by his king and by his work in the field. He took with him wagon loads of gold and silver and festal garments, so that after he was healed, he could properly show appreciation to his healer.
Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house and knocked at the door. A servant appeared, delivering the message that, if he wanted to be healed, he should go to the Jordan River and wash seven times. Then he would be healed.
Naaman was more than a little miffed that the prophet did not answer the door himself and speak with him. More than that, Naaman said, “If all I had to do was wash in a river, I could have stayed home and washed in one of the mighty rivers of Syria! Not the Jordan – a dirty little excuse for a river!” And Naaman began to storm home.
The servants again come to the rescue. “Master, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, certainly you would have done it. How much more then, since he has asked you to do something easy, you should it!”
So, Naaman goes to the Jordan River. He washes seven times. And his skin turns soft and smooth just like the Israelite slave girl in his house.
Here is where our reading ends. It is a long story – too long probably to read in its entirety. It is also a story that Jesus knows, because he refers to it in his inaugural sermon to the home folks in Nazareth back in chapter 4.
For my money, the reading ends too soon. My favorite part of the story is what happens next.
Naaman returns to the house of Elisha after he has been healed. He knocks on the front door. This time the prophet himself appears. Naaman expresses his gratitude and, as a token of his thanks, offers Elisha the wagon loads of gold and silver and fancy clothes.
Elisha declines. It was not he, after all, who healed Naaman but the God of Israel. As these things go in such stories, Naaman offers three times and Elisha declines three times, so they probably spent quite a while doing this.
Finally, Naaman says, “Okay. If you won’t accept a gift from me, will you do a favor for me? Will you let me take two mule loads of dirt home to Syria with me, so that when everyone else is praying to their gods, I can stand on sacred ground and know that the God of Israel hears my prayers.”
And Elisha says, “Go in peace.”
What is it that grounds you when you feel out of place – disconnected – and everything around you seems in upheaval? There are many things that can be grounding –meditation and prayer, scripture reading and singing, yes, but also quilting and crocheting; crafting and carpentry. Then there are long, slow walks in the woods; digging in the garden; watching the sunset and the moonrise; breathing deeply of the air God gave us.
It can be many things, but it is whatever you do with your whole heart that can ground you and re-center you. It can bring you back to a place of connection. When you come to that spot, you are on sacred ground. When you come to that spot, then you can see and turn and praise and kneel and give thanks.
And that is the kingdom of God within you.
Jesus shot back, “You can’t point to a calendar and say, ‘That’s the day!’ And you won’t see it coming down the road. Why? Because even now God’s kingdom is within you!”
The coming of the kingdom is not a matter of future expectation. Nor is it a matter looking to the horizon for something that is approaching. The kingdom of God is now. And the kingdom of God is here.
But what does Jesus mean when he says, “The kingdom of God is within you.” Does he mean that it is, as some translators say, “among you,” within your community? Or is it literally within you – inside each one of you?
I think it is both. And I think today’s gospel story can be read either way.
Jesus was traveling the border land between home territory and enemy territory. Along the way, he came upon ten who suffered from the most dreaded skin disease – leprosy. As required by the law of Moses, they kept their distance from any who might pass by. Still, they called out, “Jesus! Master! Show us mercy!”
Jesus heard them. He saw them. He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” For this is what was required by law of Moses after a cleansing from leprosy, so they could be approved to rejoin the community. And, on their way, they were cleansed!
One of the them saw what had happened. He turned. He praised God. He knelt at Jesus’ feet. And he gave thanks. Now this particular one was not a Galilean. He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the others? Why was it only this foreigner who has praised God?”
Then he said to the man, “Get up and go. Your faith has saved you.”
Much comparing has been done between the one and the nine. Often the nine are denigrated in some way. They are criticized as less faithful or less grateful. Yet, the nine not only do what the law requires. They also do as Jesus commands. They show they have faith because they trust Jesus enough to do what he says. They are not to be faulted. The point of the story is not to show how ungrateful they are.
The point of the story, I believe, is so that Jesus can draw attention to the faith of this foreigner, this apostate. It is so the disciples can see that the one they assume could not possibly have faith is the one who very obviously does have faith. It is this Samaritan who fulfills the first and greatest commandment – Love the Lord your God with your whole heart and mind and soul and strength.
Back in chapter 10, we hear the story of another Samaritan. There was once a man who was set upon by bandits, robbed, beaten and left to die by side of the road. Two highly religious people from Jerusalem pass by on the other side. But a man from Samaria – another supposed infidel – came to his aid, and, in the words of Jesus, “proved a neighbor to the man.” It was a Samaritan who fulfills the second great commandment that is like the first – love your neighbor as yourself.
In both cases, it is the one that Jesus’ listeners and particularly his disciples would have considered the least likely to have shown faith in God and love toward neighbor. Yet he is the one who did.
This is where we see the kingdom. When we see faith in one in whom we least expect it – one in whom we might consider a difficult person, a problem person, even an enemy – that is the kingdom of God appearing in our midst, among us.
So, how is it then that we can see the kingdom of God within each one of us, in our own hearts?
For that, we can look at exactly at what the Samaritan does. Luke carefully delineates his actions. There are five things that he did: He saw. He turned. He praised God. He knelt. He gave thanks.
He saw – We cannot give thanks without first seeing. If we are moving so fast toward the next thing or focused so steadfastly on what we think we have to get done right now, we will never see. You could say that the Samaritan practiced mindfulness, to use a very modern word. But, whatever you call it, you can’t give thanks for what you don’t notice. So, also with us. First, take time for noticing. Take time to see.
He turned – There is an inner action that follows noticing and precedes praise. It is a turning to the One who is the source of all good gifts. It is an inner acknowledgement that this did not happen out of our own effort and somehow by its own accord, but rather arises from the source of all benevolence. Second, then, after seeing, turn away from yourself to the true Source.
He praised – This inner turning expresses itself first in praise. Praise is not about the specific thing that is accomplished. It is simply about one’s relationship with God. Praise is not so much about gratitude as it is about love, and love needs no reason for praise. Out of all that this Samaritan does, it is praise which is mentioned by Jesus. “Why did no one else praise God, except this foreigner?” After seeing and turning, give praise to God.
He knelt – Kneeling is an act of humility. When something wonderful happens – something that is not of our doing or our deserving – the very proper, very natural response is to bow our heads to the ground. It is not an act of groveling, but an act of reverence for wonder. Fourth, bow your heads, every chance you get. It doesn’t take a miracle. Bow your head to whatever you see, to the person you are with.
He gave thanks – At last, the Samaritan gives thanks. He expresses his gratitude for the specific action that has brought him healing from disease, release from suffering, and the freedom to rejoin his loved ones and continue his life. Finally, say, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
He saw. He turned. He praised. He knelt. He gave thanks.
Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you!” Jesus acknowledges the faith of this one for whom faith is thought to be impossible. This supposed faithless one demonstrates faith for us all in seeing and turning and praising and kneeling and giving thanks.
This is his faith. This is our faith. And this too is the kingdom, when it happens in us. The kingdom of God is within you, among you, in your middle, in your midst.
This is the profound faith of a foreigner. But what happens when we feel like we are in foreign territory? When we feel miles and miles away from God’s presence? When we feel as though we are that leper, disconnected from life and love ones?
What can we do to see and turn and praise and kneel and give thanks?
I believe our first reading from II Kings provides a lesson.
This story too concerns another foreign leper. But this man was warrior and a leader of men. His name was Naaman. He was a general in the army of the king of Syria. And, not to be mistaken about who really is in control, we are told that the Lord God of Israel gave him many victories over the Israel.
During one such victory, Naaman captured a young girl from Israel whom he took as a slave in his own house. This young girl brings not only her service, but her witness. “If only my master would go to Israel, because there is a prophet in Israel who can cure him of his leprosy!”
Naaman, of course, was eager for a cure. First, though, he had to go through all the proper diplomatic channels. The kings – those who were thought to be in power – nearly made a mess of the whole deal. It was all about to become another war until the prophet intervened. Elisha sent word to the king of Israel to send the general to him.
When Naaman set out, he did not go empty handed. He was a wealthy man. He had been richly rewarded by his king and by his work in the field. He took with him wagon loads of gold and silver and festal garments, so that after he was healed, he could properly show appreciation to his healer.
Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house and knocked at the door. A servant appeared, delivering the message that, if he wanted to be healed, he should go to the Jordan River and wash seven times. Then he would be healed.
Naaman was more than a little miffed that the prophet did not answer the door himself and speak with him. More than that, Naaman said, “If all I had to do was wash in a river, I could have stayed home and washed in one of the mighty rivers of Syria! Not the Jordan – a dirty little excuse for a river!” And Naaman began to storm home.
The servants again come to the rescue. “Master, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, certainly you would have done it. How much more then, since he has asked you to do something easy, you should it!”
So, Naaman goes to the Jordan River. He washes seven times. And his skin turns soft and smooth just like the Israelite slave girl in his house.
Here is where our reading ends. It is a long story – too long probably to read in its entirety. It is also a story that Jesus knows, because he refers to it in his inaugural sermon to the home folks in Nazareth back in chapter 4.
For my money, the reading ends too soon. My favorite part of the story is what happens next.
Naaman returns to the house of Elisha after he has been healed. He knocks on the front door. This time the prophet himself appears. Naaman expresses his gratitude and, as a token of his thanks, offers Elisha the wagon loads of gold and silver and fancy clothes.
Elisha declines. It was not he, after all, who healed Naaman but the God of Israel. As these things go in such stories, Naaman offers three times and Elisha declines three times, so they probably spent quite a while doing this.
Finally, Naaman says, “Okay. If you won’t accept a gift from me, will you do a favor for me? Will you let me take two mule loads of dirt home to Syria with me, so that when everyone else is praying to their gods, I can stand on sacred ground and know that the God of Israel hears my prayers.”
And Elisha says, “Go in peace.”
What is it that grounds you when you feel out of place – disconnected – and everything around you seems in upheaval? There are many things that can be grounding –meditation and prayer, scripture reading and singing, yes, but also quilting and crocheting; crafting and carpentry. Then there are long, slow walks in the woods; digging in the garden; watching the sunset and the moonrise; breathing deeply of the air God gave us.
It can be many things, but it is whatever you do with your whole heart that can ground you and re-center you. It can bring you back to a place of connection. When you come to that spot, you are on sacred ground. When you come to that spot, then you can see and turn and praise and kneel and give thanks.
And that is the kingdom of God within you.
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