The passage from Second Kings appointed by the lectionary for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9) tells the intriguing story of Naaman -- the commander of the king of Aram's army who is searching far and wide for a cure for his leprosy. Naaman is so desperate that he even heads to Israel, where he eventually comes in contact with Elisha. What's particularly interesting about this account is Naaman's sense of self-importance. It's understandable why he thinks this way -- his military stature certainly qualifies him for VIP treatment -- so it's no surprise when he is offended by Dr.
