ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Naaman Reborn

Toe Fanau’i fo’ou ‘a Neamani

2 KINGS 5:14

SO [NAAMAN] WENT DOWN AND DIPPED HIMSELF SEVEN TIMES IN THE JORDAN, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE MAN OF GOD, AND HIS FLESH WAS RESTORED LIKE THE FLESH OF A LITTLE CHILD, AND HE WAS CLEAN.

2 TU’I 5:14

Ko ia, na‘a ne ‘alu hifo [‘a Neamani], ‘o uku tu‘o fitu ‘i Soatani, hangē ko e tala ‘a e tangata ‘o ‘Elohimi: pea na‘e foki mai hono kakano, ‘o hangē ko e kakano ‘o ha tamasi‘i, ‘o ne ma‘a.

[LILIU FAKA-TONGA]

‘Oku ‘ikai ke tau ‘ilo ‘a hono hingoa, ka na’e ngaue’aki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e fakamo’oni malohi ‘a ha ki’i fefine (na ‘ala kinitana) ke liliu ‘a e mo’ui ‘a Neamani, ko e ‘eikitau ‘Alamea. Na’a ne tala ki he uaifi ‘o Neamani, pea ne fakahoko ‘a e fekau ki hono husepaniti, ‘oku malava ‘e he palofita ‘i Samelia ke fakamo’ui ‘a hono mahaki kilia. Na’e fononga leva ‘a e ‘eikitau ke fe’iloaki mo ‘Ilaisa. Neongo ‘ene ta’eloto ki he fekau, ka na’a ne “uku tu‘o fitu ‘i Soatani.”  Ko e ola? “na‘e foki mai hono kakano, ‘o hangē ko e kakano ‘o ha tamasi‘i” [na’ala katoni]. ‘Oku tatala mai ‘e he lea faka-Hepeluu ha ‘uhinga loloto. Na’e ngaue’aki ‘e he ‘Otua ha na ‘ala kinitana (ki’i ta’ahine/fefine) ke ne tataki ha ‘eikitau mohu mafai Senitaile ke ne ma’u ha kili hange ha na’ala katoni (tamasi’i/talavou).  Ko e lahii kuo ne hoko ‘o hangee ko ha si’ii, ‘o fou ‘i he vai fakama’aa. 

Ko e papitaiso, hange ko e Soatani, ‘oku ne holoki ‘a e taha kotoa ke tu’unga tatau. Tatau ai pe, pe ko hai kitautolu ‘i he’etau hifo ki he vai - malohi pe vaivai; koloa’ia pe masiva; ‘iloa pe ‘ikai - ‘oku tau hake kotoa pe ‘i he tu’unga tatau: ko e fanau kotoa pe ‘a e ‘Otua. ‘Oku tu’a ‘a e vai kae malohi ‘a e folofola ‘oku ne fai hotau fakama’a mei he mahaki ‘o e angahala. ‘Oku hoko ‘o ma’a, ma’oni’oni pea ohi kotoa kitautolu ki he famili ‘o e Tamai. 

‘Oku mau ‘atu ‘a e fakamalo kiate koe, ‘e Tamai Faka-hevani, ho’o lau kimautolu ko ho’o fanau ‘o fou ‘i he Soatani ‘o e Papitaiso.

We don't even know her name, but God used the bold confession a young girl (na arah q'tannah) to forever alter the life of Naaman, the Aramean general. She told Naaman's wife, who relayed the message to her husband, that the prophet in Samaria could heal his skin disease. So the general undertook the journey to see Elisha. After an initial stubborn refusal, Naaman finally "dipped himself seven times in the Jordan." The result? "His flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child [na'ar qaton]." The Hebrew unveils a profound meaning. God used a na'arah q'tannah ("young girl/lady") to lead this powerful Gentile man to have skin like a na'ar qaton ("young boy/man"). The greatest becomes like the least in these cleansing waters.

Baptism, like the Jordan, is the great equalizer. No matter who we are as we enter those waters-powerful or vulnerable; rich or poor; famous or unknown-we all emerge the same: as children of God. The simple water and strong word wash away the disease of sin. We are clean, holy, and all part of the same family of our Father.

Thanks be to you, heavenly Father, for claiming us as your children in the Jordan of baptism.