2 Kings
5:1-15 / Luke 4:24-30
Elisha
tells Naaman to wash:
Naaman expected something harder.
James
Michener’s book The
Source has a section that treats a time period that parallels the
Old Testament era. One episode of that section deals with people in a place
called Makor. They have just adopted a new god called Melak, who demands human
sacrifice.
Michener
writes: “[The people adopted their new god] partly because his demands upon
them were severe ... and partly because they had grown somewhat contemptuous of
their local gods precisely because they were not demanding.” Some
people think modern Christianity has been watered down and is no longer
demanding or challenging.
****
How
do we feel about this? Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must
forget himself, take up his cross every day, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
****
One of our
instinctive reactions to something unpleasant or threatening is anger. Anger is
a defensive response to something that we don't know how to handle or something
that puts us into trouble.
In today's two readings, we see anger exploding in tensed situations. In the 1st reading, the king of Israel blew up in anger when he received that letter from the king of Aram so much so that he tore his robes.
That was because he was asked to do something for Naaman to cure him of his leprosy and that left him fuming.
But later on it was Naaman who was fuming when he was asked by Elisha's servant to bathe seven times in the Jordan.
Yes, anger is the reaction when our security and comfort is threatened. Yet, more often than not it is people in authority and with some power who will flare up in anger.
Yet, in the heat of the anger of the king of Israel and also of Naaman, it was the lowly servants who eventually pacified them and helped them see things in perspective.
Let us pray that we too will be like those humble and lowly servants who will bring peace to tensed situations and calm the anger of people with the love of God.
And may God also send us humble and lowly persons to us when we lose our cool so that we can see things in perspective.
****In today's two readings, we see anger exploding in tensed situations. In the 1st reading, the king of Israel blew up in anger when he received that letter from the king of Aram so much so that he tore his robes.
That was because he was asked to do something for Naaman to cure him of his leprosy and that left him fuming.
But later on it was Naaman who was fuming when he was asked by Elisha's servant to bathe seven times in the Jordan.
Yes, anger is the reaction when our security and comfort is threatened. Yet, more often than not it is people in authority and with some power who will flare up in anger.
Yet, in the heat of the anger of the king of Israel and also of Naaman, it was the lowly servants who eventually pacified them and helped them see things in perspective.
Let us pray that we too will be like those humble and lowly servants who will bring peace to tensed situations and calm the anger of people with the love of God.
And may God also send us humble and lowly persons to us when we lose our cool so that we can see things in perspective.
Monday of 3rd Week of
Lent - LITURGY
SALVATION FOR PAGANS
Introduction
Today’s liturgy thinks especially of converts who are
baptized and immersed into the baptismal water. Are conversion and missionary
action still valid? Why be concerned about unknown, distant peoples? – Elisha
cured the pagan officer from Damascus, Syria, and the man found both healing
and faith. Jesus, not accepted as a prophet in his own town, says that
salvation will be offered to pagans. That doesn't mean that the missionary will
not be always understood and welcomed in the missions...
Penitential Rite:
-As we accept, like Naaman, the leprosies of our own
sinfulness, LHM
-As we seek help for healing even through seemingly
insignificant people, CHM
-As we obey and follow the rituals and ceremonies of
sacraments and celebrations of the Church, LHM
Opening Prayer
Lord God, our Father, you want all people to be saved through
faith in Jesus Christ, your Son. May Christians not practice spiritual
selfishness and clannishness but may their faith mean so much to them that they
want to share it with others, that your Son may be known and loved everywhere, for
he is the Lord of all for ever.
Commentary
It all seemed just too ordinary. Naaman, an army commander
in a neighboring country, is a respected military leader but suffers from some
form of leprosy. One of his servant girls suggests that he visit the prophet
Elisha in Israel. Naaman decides to act on the proposal, but, following the
proper protocol, he first presents himself to the king of Israel, with the
proper letters from his own king. The king of Israel is distraught with the
request that is made. He has no interest in finding a prophet healer. Elisha
the prophet hears about the case and asks the king to send Naaman to him.
Elisha then directs Naaman to go to the Jordan and wash himself seven times.
But the Jordan waters are insignificant in comparison with the rivers of Syria,
Naaman’s home country. He is not going to follow the directive until his
servants urge him to give it a try. He does so, is immediately healed, and
returns home a convinced believer in the God of Israel. Faced with the
continued obstinacy of his opponents, Jesus drawn on the Naaman story to
highlight the openness of foreigners to God’s action while Israelites were
frequently left behind because of intransigence and hardness of heart. Naaman
was dubious but remained open to what was asked of him. Perhaps many of us are
slow to see the hand of God in the ordinary events of life. A person who had
lived a life far from God is at some point drawn to God by conversion of heart.
Or a quiet unassuming pastor becomes God’s instrument in bringing a hardened
sinner back to Christ. It may be that at times we stand too close to an event
to see God’s hand. We would do well to be spiritually attentive. Miracles may
not appear with undue frequency—but they do appear.
Points to Ponder
The presence of God in daily events Conversion: a moment of
God’s grace Being alive to the sacred in life
Intercessions
– For those who are
preparing for baptism, that the Word of God may become their guide in life and
that baptism may renew them, we pray:
– For the Christian community, that they may prepare a
hearty welcome and support for the newly baptized, we pray:
– For those who have joined us in the faith, that they may
experience us as joyful, redeemed people who know how to love and to serve, we
pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God, may we have enough faith to welcome your Son
among us in these simple signs of bread and wine. May we and people everywhere accept
that you come to us all with a human approach through the humanity of Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after
Communion
Lord, our God, Father of all people everywhere, strengthen
with your word and your body and blood all those who have left their country
and culture to bring your Good News to different countries and other cultures. May
they humbly serve their new people, receive their love and gifts of mind and
heart, and help the local Church to grow in Jesus Christ, your Son and our
Lord.
Blessing
We should also think during Lent the converts who will be
accepted into the Church through baptism, the great Lenten sacrament. It is not
merely that individuals join us in the Church, but that the community of the
Church must be ready to receive these people and to make them feel at home. May
Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
