Sin's Disfigurement"

A sermon preached on Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on II Kings 5:1-14.

It was Carol’s turn to pray, as the family all gathered around the table for dinner. And so she invited her family to bow their heads and these were the words she offered; "O God, help us know when we have eaten enough and stop." As you might imagine, she stunned everyone at the table by her words. Someone once wrote; "We are careful to avoid praying about those things which we have no desire to change." And perhaps, the prayer; "O God, help us to know when we have eaten enough and stop," was such a prayer.
Most of the time we’re afraid to pray about what we could be and do. Sadly, we’ve learned to pray; "O God, make me a better person, but not so much better that I have to change the way I live." And certainly, the prayer that David offered in Psalm 51 is a difficult prayer to pray. This is one of the seven penitential psalms.
There’s a story that is told of a man who desperately wanted a tattoo; however, he knew that his girlfriend would not permit him to have one. Finally, one day he demised a plan that would hopefully convince his girlfriend to allow him to have a tattoo. He said to her; "Honey, I really want a tattoo…" before he could say another word she said; "No!" He said; "But honey, at least hear me out before you make your decision." He said; "I want to get a tattoo that professes my love for you. I am planning to get tattooed on me, ‘I love Samantha!’" All of a sudden, his girlfriend’s eye brightened, and she thought to herself, "You know, if he gets this tattoo, that will mean that, like the tattoo, our love will be permanent." And so, she agreed. That evening he went to the tattoo parlor to get his tattoo and several hours later he returned. As he walked into the house, his girlfriend noticed that he was obviously upset about something and so she asked; "What’s wrong, honey? Did you get the tattoo? Did it not turn out the way you wanted it too? Let me see it?" Finally, he lifted his shirt and there written in big red lettering were the words; "I LOVE SAM"! You see, he had run out of money and couldn’t afford the rest of the lettering.
Ash Wednesday – the season of Lent is a reminder that we bear tattoos. Yet, of another kind – the tattoo of sin. Te word "tattoo" literally means, "to stain." And so, this season reminds us that we bear the tattoo and stain of sin, we are disfigured by sin.
In our Scripture Lesson this evening we read of the mighty and powerful military leader, Naaman, who contracted leprosy. Now, keep in mind, this diagnoses would have been devastating for Naaman. His life, as he knew would be over. Lepers were sent to live in isolation and separation. They were not allowed to have contact with society – they were cut off from society and their lives were over! It was, in many ways a social death. And so, we can only imagine the devastation Naaman must have felt and experienced as a result of his leprosy.
However, in our Scripture Lesson, we are told that Naaman is sent to see the prophet Elisha. We must give Naaman the benefit of the doubt, he was after all unfamiliar with the faith and traditions of the Covenant people, he was unaware of the significance of being asked to wash seven times in the Jordan. In fact, for a powerful man as himself, it would have been humiliating. I mean, it was bad enough having leprosy, but washing in the dirty, murky waters of the Jordan river – and not just one time, but seven, would have been humiliating. However, Naaman was unaware that the number seven was the number of completion and perfection. And that the Jordan was the site of many miracles in Bible history. You see, Naaman was being asked to align himself symbolically with the people of faith, but because of his ignorance, he resisted Elisha’s instructions, at first.
But then, after some persuasion, he finally did as the prophet had instructed him. He went down in the waters not once, not twice, not three times, but seven times and came up healed. And certainly, this experience of Naaman is symbolic of baptism. This story of physical healing is symbolic of the spiritual healing we experience through Christ.
There is a tradition among the Hasidic Jews that teaches that everyone should have two pockets in their coats with two slips of paper. In one pocket, and on one slip of paper it should read; "I am sinner and worthless." In the other pocket, and on the other slip of paper should read the words; "I am a child of God." That’s the reminder of Lent. This could really be a considered a bi-polar season. On one hand, we are reminded that we are sinners, worthless, frail creatures of the dust; but on the other hand, the greater hand, the upper hand, we are reminded that we are a child of God.
You may recall that scene in the movie Lion King when Simba is told; "Remember who you are…" Lent is an opportunity, an invitation to remember who you are, but more than that, to remember whose you are!
I love the story of the man who had in his front yard the slab of marble. And for weeks, and months and years people would holler at him, "What is that in your front yard?" And he would say, "It is a beautiful statue." To which they would respond; "No it’s not, it’s just a piece of marble." But as the weeks, and months, and years went by, the man chiseled and shaped it into a wonderful and beautiful statue.
Lent is a reminder that God is shaping, and molding and chiseling our lives into the image and likeness of Christ – that we might become a reflection of God in such a world.