Word to the Wise
Monday, March 24, 2014 - 3rd Week of Lent - Mon
[2 Kgs 5:1-15a and Luke 4:24-30]Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. The prophet sent him the message: "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal and you will be clean." [2 Kings]
Jesus faces down his hometown synagogue and berates them for their lack of faith! He invokes the two great Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Elisha, as finding very little faith in Israel and helping only a widow and a pagan army general by the name of Naaman! I have to admit that Naaman is one of my favorite characters in the Bible!
Naaman is honest about his feelings! He is disappointed, to say the least, in Elisha who doesn't even bother to come out and greet him, but sends a message to go bathe in the Jordan River(about the size of a respectable bayou). Big egos expect big scenarios! However, Naaman is also open to reason and even if he grumbles about it, he takes the advice of his servants and goes to the Jordan and gets big results!
In Nazareth, there is no openness to Jesus. There is no way the son of a local carpenter can be the Messiah. They run him out of town!
Are we willing to accept the small and seemingly unspectacular demands on our faith that God sends every day? Can we see each encounter with our neighbor as a possible encounter with Jesus? [cf. Matthew 25:31-45] The small request or the most insignificant person [in our estimation] may bring an incredible blessing! If our pride or prejudice gets in the way, we may miss the opportunity of a lifetime! Lent can get us started or boosted in the effort! AMEN