In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Let me say first, that I'm happy for the family that only last week, received a new home, built in just a few days by the Extreme Makeover Home Edition folks and their cooperating businesses. What a wonderful thing to see a family in such need, receive a home that will make life better for their daughter who has serious health challenges. But what really struck me was, at the end of the week, after the home was revealed, several folks who were interviewed for the Gazette newspaper said, "I don't know the family, but they really deserved this-they are really worthy of this." And-I'm sure they are. It does kind of leave you wondering, though-what about the other folks in our community, who have children with health problems, who are really deserving, worthy people, who get no help? Instead of spending the great deal of money it must take to make build a house and film a TV show episode in one week, couldn't some money be saved, to help other worthy, deserving families and persons? And what about those folks who have desperate needs, but aren't considered worthy? Families who are in need, because the dad is in jail? Homes where the kids are in dire need, but the parents are meth addicts? People who are struggling, because of mental illness? I suppose we would say these folks are not worthy-not deserving, because someone-a father, a mother, a member of the family, brought these troubles on themselves. It's not that the good folks at Extreme Makeover shouldn't be doing the good work that they're doing-it's just-that whole question of who is worthy, and who isn't-sticks in the craw. Who makes the decision about who is worthy and deserving? A producer? The marketing department? A local committee? Today our lessons present us with issues of who is worthy, and who isn't, and how God deals with whether or not we are, or aren't deserving.

     Our first lesson presents the account of a great man, a commander of the army of the king of Aram, which we now know as Syria, who, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Having heard from one of his slaves about the prophet Elisha, of the God of Israel, Naaman sought healing, first from the king of Israel, but then from Elisha. And what transpired, was not to Naaman's liking. And it wasn't that Elisha ignored Naaman-it wasn't that Elisha was unwilling to attend to Naaman's disease-its that Naaman expected more, given his high standing and position. What Elisha commanded, was that Naaman go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and then he would be healed and cleansed. But believe it or not, Naaman was angered by that, and left saying, "I thought that for me, he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and simply wave his hand and cure the leprosy!" You see, Naaman, great commander of the army of the king of Aram, thought he was deserving-thought he was worthy of more than a command to go and wash in the lowly, muddy Jordan River! Surely, such a man as he, warranted a visit, at least-surely this so-called prophet should come out of his house, and attend to this great man personally, and save Naaman the silliness of a ritual such as washing in the river seven times! And this is the difficulty with thinking we are worthy and deserving-we never think we've gotten quite enough-quite what we are owed, or quite what we should be receiving. Which Naaman's servants pointed out, when they suggested he would be all to willing to do something difficult, if Elisha had suggested it. So why not do the simple thing? And Naaman, humbled, finally did just that, and found himself clean, and his flesh restored like the flesh of a young boy. And Naaman was so happy, that he returned to Elisha convinced that this God of Israel was the one true God-and Naaman offered Elisha a gift-a thank-offering. And we see, in this encounter and healing, that God is no respecter of persons-that the prophet of the Lord, Elisha, did not treat Naaman any differently than he would have treated any other person. In fact, how interesting that Elisha was willing to heal, even an arrogant pagan commander of the king of Aram! Though Naaman thought he was worthy and deserving-in God's sight, he would not have been considered either. And yet, Elisha healed this man, and Naaman was converted-and told Elisha that from that point on, whenever he was praying, he would be praying to, the God of Israel. So, if God doesn't heal on the basis of whether one is worthy or deserving, why does God heal and cleanse? God's desire is always--to create a response of faith and cause people to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Being worthy or deserving, has no impact on whether or not God gives healing. And that, not coincidentally, is just what we see in our Gospel lesson for today.

     On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee, and as he entered a village, ten lepers came near to Jesus and cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" And seemingly without concern for whether or not these lepers were worthy, or deserving, Jesus sent them to show themselves to the priests, as was required by the Law, and on the way, they were cleansed. And if Jesus cleansed them without regard for their worthiness or unworthiness-why did Jesus cleanse them? We see Jesus' intention, in his surprise that only one returned to praise and glorify God, as Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God, except this foreigner?" Jesus healed the ten, to bring about faith, and hearts that would give thanks and praise to God. Jesus clearly expected that the other nine would respond to their miraculous, life-changing healing, by returning, and lying prostrate at Jesus' feet with the one who did return. But sadly, while all ten were healed, only one was made well, and whole. While all ten were healed, only one made a response of faith. And we might be surprised, that Jesus left the other nine, cleansed! We might have expected Jesus to have caused leprosy to return to the other, ungrateful nine! But again, Jesus didn't heal because someone was worthy or deserving. He healed, to bring about faith-and who knows what change of heart and mind might have come to the nine, later? But the truth is, only one was made whole, and completely well, not just by physical healing, but by the response of faith. And that, brings us to today.

     That brings us back to today, when we are fortunate to experience God's grace and mercy, God's healing and cleansing and transformation, day by day, moment by moment, not because we are worthy or deserving, but because God desires to create and sustain faith, in us! Like the lepers, we experience God's grace and mercy, not because we have earned it, or deserve it, but simply because God desires the response of faith-so God gives to us, health and healing, and forgiveness and salvation. And then, God waits for our response. God waits for our freely given, heartfelt response. God waits for our thank-offering-the offering of ourselves and all that we have, and all that we are. God gives us His gifts freely, without price, without our being worthy of them-and then, as Jesus waited for the ten to return, God waits for the response of faith-knowing, that in that response, we will be made whole-well-complete. And do all ten of us respond, in faith? Do all ten of us return to Jesus, and give thanks? You'd be shocked, and surprised to find how few Christians, do return and respond. As we've said before, 30% of Christians worship on any given Sunday-the one time when we can come to church, receive God's gifts of healing and salvation, and then, respond, by prayer, praise and thanksgiving, and yes, by giving our thank-offering. Roman Catholic Bishop Sheridan wrote in an article recently, that he wishes it were different in their parishes as well-but even though attendance at Mass is required, is a solemn obligation, only 3 out of 10 Roman Catholics worship on any given Sunday. You see, you can't legislate that, or demand it-God offers his gifts, and then waits for the heartfelt, genuine response of faith. And even when it was Jesus who healed the ten, and waited for them to return, only 10% showed up. Maybe a 30% return each Sunday isn't so bad! But if that isn't so bad, in terms of attendance at Sunday worship--when you look at this in terms of financial stewardship, the situation is much worse. In most of western Christianity, giving is only at about 2.5% of income. The Bible teaches tithing-giving 10% of your income as a first-fruit thank-offering-but the average among Christians is 2.5 %--and considering a lot of folks do give 10%, that means there are many who give nothing-no response of faith, in terms of the stewardship of our wealth, not to mention time and talent. And to be sure, there are those who are not able to give-there are some on limited incomes, or unemployed, or in uncertain circumstances-and we all understand those situations. But in western Christianity-in our congregation, most of us have received an abundance of God's gifts-not because we are worthy or deserving, but just because God gives, freely and without condition. And God waits, for our response. God waits for the response of faith that makes us whole and well and complete, as persons, as children of God. And the good news is-whether or not you give 10% or 2.5% of your income to God-whether or not you give anything at all-whether you come to church once a month, or three times a week-God doesn't withhold or withdraw His gifts and healing and mercy! Just as Jesus didn't strike the ungrateful nine with a return of leprosy-God doesn't deal with us on the basis of what we give, or what we withhold, or whether we worship Him or don't worship Him. God, is faithful! God, is trustworthy! God loves us, regardless our actions or inactions-our response or lack of response-our willingness to give, or our unwillingness to give. But the response of faith-is an expression of our gratitude. The response of faith is the natural reaction, of a grateful heart. The response of faith, whether in time, talent, or treasure-is the expression of one who has been made clean by the blood of the Lamb-one who has been saved by grace through faith. The response of faith is how we praise and thank God, for all he has done for us. And the response of faith, makes us, whole, well, complete.

     This week, we are being asked to prayerfully consider our stewardship response for 2008; as you freely, without guilt or compulsion make a decision for what you will give in the coming year-consider, not whether you are worthy or unworthy-but consider how you have been touched, by the healing, transforming hand of Jesus; consider how God has, and is making you clean, and new, day by day; consider how God loves and accepts you, in spite of the fact that you are unworthy and undeserving. And consider-how your response, will make you well-and complete, as a child of God. And may God receive, our gratitude, and our thanks, and our appropriate thank-offering-so that He may also receive, our praise and worship, as we give Him the glory, in all things!

     In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.