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Bearing Witness

December 15, 2023

2 Kings 5:1-14  |  Psalm 96  |  Luke 13:10-17

Today “Lesser Feasts and Fasts” invites us to reflect on the life of Nino, a fourth century missionary to the country of Georgia. Georgia was and is located at the southeastern end of the Black Sea. Nino was captured and brought there from Cappadocia, part of present-day Turkey that was then situated near the eastern edge of the Roman Empire.

Like the young girl mentioned in today’s reading from 2d Kings, Nino was taken to a foreign land to serve as a slave in the household of her captors. As with that Old Testament witness, Nino’s way of life was such that when she spoke, her enslavers paid attention and thought well enough of her that they acted on her suggestions. Both stories also involve healings that lead to conversions, and in both cases the healings and conversions occur because a servant of the Most High God had the courage to bear witness to her faith in word and deed to those of greater status and power.

The words of the witness of 2d Kings resulted in the healing of Naaman the general, which led him into a relationship with the One True God. Nino’s action also entailed a healing, in this case, of a young girl. That act of faith led first to the conversion of the queen of Georgia and then of the country’s king. At the king’s request, the Roman Emperor sent priests to catechize the people of Georgia, and Georgia became one of the first nations to be converted to Christianity.

Neither Nino nor the witness of 2d Kings had any intention of doing a great deed. Each did only what she believed to be a basic requirement of her faith: show love to all people, even those who are unlike you, even those who oppress you. By speaking and acting on their faith, both witnesses proclaimed the God of Love to the “other” and precipitated actions that furthered the spread of God’s Kingdom. They did what all of us are called to do: bear witness to those around us by deeds—and by words when appropriate. They did not know what effects their actions and words would have. Like them, neither do we.

Steve Capp