Word to the Wise
Monday, February 29, 2016 - 3rd Week of Lent - Mon
[2 Kgs 5:1-15a and Luke 4:24-30]MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2016 MONDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT [2 Kings 5:1-15ab and Luke 4:24-30] "Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." [Luke] Jesus compares the faith of his hometown folks unfavorably with that of Naaman the Syrian, whose story we read in the first scripture for today. Naaman was not even a Jew but he was healed when others who should have believed would not. Not that Naaman's faith was perfect, mind you! He was not happy with the order that Elisha gave him to wash in the Jordan River. After all, he was an important man and expected to do important gestures. His hometown rivers were much bigger! But Naaman had one virtue that Jesus' hometown folks did not have. He was willing to listen to others. When he did that he was healed. Sometimes the Lord speaks to us through unexpected people - even people we don't like. Jesus' people could not accept him because of their hometown familiarity with him. What is our excuse? AMEN