Every Person is Important

4th Sunday after Pentecost Reflection St Andrew’s, Nags Head Thomas E Wilson, Guest Officiant July 6, 2025 Every Person Is Important 2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 First of all, I need to tell you that this old man has made some mistakes. My standard practice is to look at the lessons and come up with a poem that forms the outline of what I need to say in a reflection. I was working in an empty office and I didn't really feel comfortable. So I chose to work out of my condo where I feel comfortable. So what follows is basically two poems, a ¾ reflection and a ¼ glimpse. In my decades of being an Episcopal Clergy I have heard a particular phrase scores of times; “He (or She) does (or doesn’t) deserve it.” It is usually used when I am asked to visit someone who is unwell, physically or emotionally. It either means that person is a good person who is unfairly suffering, or a bad person who should be paying for their sins. In my theology “Stuff happens!” It doesn’t matter if you are good or bad. Often when I visit someone, they may even ask me: “What have I done to deserve this!” I got a call from my dermatologist this week that told me that I need to come in next month to get rid of some small cancerous cells. I probably deserve that because of my sloth in going out into the Outer Banks sunshine without slathering myself with sunscreen, or at least wearing a hat. Or, I could take the theological route and find plenty of sins that would cause me to suffer. In today’s Hebrew Testament Lesson for today, Naaman,an arrogant enemy general, has come down with a grievous skin condition. He has a young girl in his household whom he captured in a raid and kept her as a slave, who tells him about a Prophet, Elisha who can bring healing to his enemy. In any Hebrew mind, leprosy was seen as a punishment from God, and Naaman deserves what he gets by holding her as a prisoner of war. Naaman’s boss, the King of Aran, an area of northern Syria, orders the King of Israel, whose predecessor, Ahab, had been killed by the forces of Aran, to allow Naaman, the great Warrior of Aran, to visit Elisha and try to be healed. The King of Israel is not stupid, and he knows that if Naaman is not cured, it will be seen by the King of Aram as an insult. Naaman comes with all of his prejudices and arrogance in full view. He did not deserve to be healed. Yet, he comes to himself and enters the water as a humble supplicant and when he comes out of the water, he is healed. Elisha sends him, his enemy, his gracious best wishes and refuses to accept any payment. If you read further than this lesson in this Book of Kings, the servant of Elisha, the scoundrel Gahazi, tries to shake down Naaman for a lot of money. But that is another story of the graciousness of the enemy, because every person is important. Naaman has been changed, fully healed and he enters his new life. As the writer of the Epistle to the Galatians would write centuries later where a New Creation is everything. A New Creation is to open our eyes and see our neighbor, and even our enemy, as the beloved Of God. There also should be an opening of my eyes, because I wrote a poem on the Hebrew Testament lesson before I wrote this reflection and I had forgotten that I had already written a poem for this Sunday based on the Gospel lesson and put it in the office to be placed in the bulletin, So here is the poem for the Hebrew Testament lesson: Every Person is Important Elisha said, “Don’t worry, he’s only just a man.” Naaman came riding up in chariots and horses, Strutting; putting underlings through courses, Making them all grovel, just because he can. He is so used to be in command and feared, That it doesn't occur to him, that he’s asking, To go beyond his own power and be tasking To empty himself before the prophet revered. Control is something he wants to hold on to, But, now finds his pride needs to be set free, Becomes a supplicant, and not a warrior be, As he prepares to go into the water through, To trust in a power greater than himself Being freed from all wounds themself.. In the Gospel lesson for today, Jesus sends seventy of his followers, his disciples, out to bring healing and good news to the surrounding towns and villages. As followers of Jesus, that is our job, to bring healing, peace and good news to these communities of the Outer Banks. We are fortunate, there are thousands of new people who come to visit these Outer Banks every week. How do we treat them? I am not asking you to hand out Chrisitian literature at street corners, rather to treat visitors with respect and dignity. Yes, the roads are more crowded, the lines at the stores are longer, the restaurant parking lots are filled with other than local license plates; but these people are our neighbors, even from far off. I am asking that you treat the visitors as people who need to find a welcome here in this corner of God’s creation. Here is the Poem for the Gospel lesson. The Disciples Return “Your names are written in the Heaven” He said after they had all done work, They were looking for a grading clerk, Using a ten-point scale; at least seven. Always looking for some passing marks, Telling them they’d made a good grade, That they’d earned honor for efforts made, Their lamps of honor are lit by the sparks Of hope that they so need to daily see, Of making small differences in their life, That their works would not end in strife, But being a great way of pleasing Thee. They are no different from any of us When we want out glories to discuss.