2 Kings 5:19b-27 (NRSV)
Greed brings leprosy to Gehazi
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 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." So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is everything all right?" He replied, "Yes, but my master has sent me to say, 'Two members of a company of prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim; please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'" Naaman said, "Please accept two talents." He urged him, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them in front of Gehazi. When he came to the citadel, he took the bags from them, and stored them inside; he dismissed the men, and they left.
He went in and stood before his master; and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" He answered, "Your servant has not gone anywhere at all." But he said to him, "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? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you, and to your descendants forever." So he left his presence leprous, as white as snow.
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 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." So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is everything all right?" He replied, "Yes, but my master has sent me to say, 'Two members of a company of prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim; please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'" Naaman said, "Please accept two talents." He urged him, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them in front of Gehazi. When he came to the citadel, he took the bags from them, and stored them inside; he dismissed the men, and they left.
He went in and stood before his master; and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" He answered, "Your servant has not gone anywhere at all." But he said to him, "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? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you, and to your descendants forever." So he left his presence leprous, as white as snow.
And addendum to the addendum to Naaman's story.
We don't like it when folks get off too easy, do we? Our "innate sense of justice" is offended.
Can we blame Gehazi for being offended at Naaman getting off so lightly? Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not so sure that under the same conditions I wouldn't have looked at this man - an ancient one-percenter with access to the best health care of his day - and wanted to cry foul. All he had to do was dip in the Jordan river, and that's it?
Of course, Gehazi's sense of justice seems ultimately not about righting a wrong done to his master, but as a means to line his own purse. Wanting those in power to pay their due is one thing. Wanting to use their wealth for our own gain is another.
God's justice is different. God's gift of grace is different, and sometimes, God's grace falls on those who maybe we might not have chosen.
That grace is so bountiful, so overflowing, and so generous, that it spills over places and people we might not think of. Like the lavish seed scatterer of Jesus' parable, God throws that grace far and wide. On us, and on our "enemies." We are called to proclaim that abundant grace, even when we aren't sure we think it's fair.
Grace isn't fair. It's love.
Generous and loving God: Help us to be partners with you in the spreading of your good news, telling others of your generous, spectacular grace. And when we think that grace isn't fair, remind us of the love you bear all of your people and invite us to love them just as abundantly. Amen
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