The narratives in the Old Testament reading for today, 2 Kings chapter 5 provides us a good source of reflection and healing to the current EU Referendum flavours and aftermaths.  Our nation, United Kingdom is divided, we need healing from the dividing, and ‘disfiguring moral leprosy’ of petty bickering between politicians which gets in the way of national unity and progress.  The divisions that plagues us crosses partisan lines hence, moral leprosy is a disease that divides homes, nations and leaders and could separate ‘individuals outside the bounds of human relationship and community.’ Like Naaman, we are all individuals of little and temporal values. Moral leprosy, ‘a blemish of best ideals,’ and democracy promotes hatred, betrayal and even murder. Moral leprosy infects with pride and arrogance above others. It fester wounds, hatred, discrimination, and division that pits a nation and even a continent against one another. Moral leprosy afflicts the rich and the poor.

Many are holding what they don’t need or know how to handle, and many are in need of what they lack hence, healthy lifestyle becomes a giving and receiving. Naaman needs a community of healer, and the migrant lady needs a powerful and wealthy community hence, healing invites humility and love on the two sides respectively. Every warrior or  super power nation is also a vulnerable human being or a nation in need of help from others. No warrior remains self-reliant or strong for ever, we all need help. What the great king of Syria do not know or his memo to the king of Israel could do was a simple thing for the nameless migrant slave-girl to do. To fashion Naaman’s healing, we need a united community, ready to engage and receive from one another.

The reflection is that no one can travel this world alone or with those who looks and votes like us alone. Welcoming other is a sacred legacy to us as a nation and to our Christian faith. In spite of our differences, the task of bringing the Great Britain, and this entire, ‘noble continent, comprising on the whole the fairest and the most cultivated regions of the earth,’ and the whole world to wholeness belong to everyone. Jesus’ vision of God’s reign is not ethnically or culturally exclusive, but breaking through the restrictive boundaries of nationality to inclusive people, just as Naaman went beyond his narrow tribal view of himself.  It is about healing beyond, self-reliant, memo and pride, but by accepting our weakness and dependence on one another. O Lord in Your mercy, heal us and heal our land in Jesus name.