Lessons for February 12, 2006 – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany The first lesson 2 Kings 5:1-14 The king of Aram had high admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. 2Now groups of Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a maid. 3One day the girl said to her mistress, "I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy." 4So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. 5"Go and visit the prophet," the king told him. "I will send a letter of introduction for you to carry to the king of Israel." So Naaman started out, taking as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 6The letter to the king of Israel said: "With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy." 7When the king of Israel read it, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, "This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I God, that I can kill and give life? He is only trying to find an excuse to invade us again." 8But when Elisha, the man of God, heard about the king's reaction, he sent this message to him: "Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel." 9So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha's house. 10But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: "Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of leprosy." 11But Naaman became angry and stalked away. "I thought he would surely come out to meet me!" he said. "I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! 12Aren't the Abana River and Pharpar River of Damascus better than all the rivers of Israel put together? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?" So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. 13But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply to go and wash and be cured!" 14So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his flesh became as healthy as a young child's, and he was healed! (NLT) Psalm 30. L. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. C. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. L. O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health. C. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. L. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. C. Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. L. His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! C. Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. L. When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!" C. Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. L. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. I cried out to you, O Lord. C. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, "What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? L. Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness? C. Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord." L. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. C. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, L. that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. C. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! (NLT) The second lesson 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. 25All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. 27I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Mark 1:40-45 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you want to, you can make me well again," he said. 41Moved with pity, Jesus touched him. "I want to," he said. "Be healed!" 42Instantly the leprosy disappeared—the man was healed. 43Then Jesus sent him on his way and told him sternly, 44"Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don't talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing." 45But as the man went on his way, he spread the news, telling everyone what had happened to him. As a result, such crowds soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn't enter a town anywhere publicly. He had to stay out in the secluded places, and people from everywhere came to him there. (NLT)