tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post8477873401611951178..comments2024-03-24T05:54:23.612-05:00Comments on Weedon's Blog: Homily upon Epiphany 3William Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-71542565837326775852012-01-21T22:25:01.896-06:002012-01-21T22:25:01.896-06:00Dear Rev. Weedon: to me the story of Naaman is one...Dear Rev. Weedon: to me the story of Naaman is one of the most touching in the entire Bible. I can barely read it without my throat tightening up.<br /><br />One reason is the familial relationship between Naaman and his servants: they call him “Father.” I am no expert on the topic but I suspect few masters would allow their servants to call them “Father” in that land at that time. It is touching to see how they are genuinely concerned for his welfare, and what personal risk they take to help him. And of course the very clear parallel to Baptism.<br /><br />Then we come to the centurion in Matthew 8, and we see that the one who was ill was “παῖς μου”. More often than not, these words are translated as “my child” or “my boy”. The centurion himself, after asking healing for “παῖς μου”, speaks about the “δούλος”, to whom he can say, “Do this” and the slave does it. So here may be a similarity to the relationship between Naaman and his servants!<br /><br />At the same time, I have always been puzzle about what we are asking for when we pray that paraphrase of the centurion’s prayer, “But say the word and my soul will be healed”? <br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. MarquartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com