Word to the Wise
Monday, March 4, 2013 - 3rd Week of Lent - Mon
[2 Kgs 5:1-15a and Luke 4:24-30]Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elijah the prophet; yet not one of them was cleanses, but only Naaman the Syrian. [Luke]
These words were hurled by Jesus at his hometown synagogue congregation at his inaugural preaching. Naaman was not even a Jew! He was a pagan military commander! And even he was skeptical when an Israelite slave girl told him about Elijah! (At least she had some faith!) I have always found Naaman a fascinating character. But he showed an ability to listen to others - first to the slave girl and then to other servants in his retinue who had to convince him that the Jordan River would do more for him than his mighty rivers back home! In short, he didn't let his ego get in the way of getting rid of the leprosy! He reminds me of the centurion that comes to Jesus to ask for a cure for his servant. "Say but the word....." Jesus notes Naaman with approval!
In the gospel of Mark, we are told that when Jesus came to Nazareth he was so distressed by their rejection that he was unable to do much for them - "He was amazed at their lack of faith." [Mark 6:6] For awhile, Naaman was his own worst enemy until he was convinced by others that Elijah could help him and that he had only to do what Elijah told him to do. Do we behave that way with Jesus? What does it take for us to believe in him and that he can truly help us? AMEN