Word to the Wise
Monday, March 4, 2024 - 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 Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." [Luke]
Jesus spoke these words to his hometown people in criticism of their lack of faith in him. Naaman was a pagan and his story is recounted in the first scripture for today from the Second Book of Kings! He was the successful commander of the armies of the kingdom of Aram but his health became an issue - a "leprosy" of some kind. Good advice can come from unexpected quarters and Naaman had enough sense (or was desperate enough) to follow the advice of a Jewish slave girl to go and find Elisha the prophet. But his pride (and the pride of the King of Israel) nearly derailed the whole enterprise. But Elisha intervened and the first step to healing was saved. But there was more to come.
The second step was to follow the advice of the prophet! Naaman had to swallow his pride and go bathe seven times in the Jordan River and not in some mightier body of water in his own kingdom. Again he also followed the advice of his servants who confronted him with his pride when he balked at Elisha's command. Naaman's biggest problem wasn't his leprosy, it was his pride!
The sequence is a familiar one to anyone in a position to counsel. Someone finally admits they can't handle their situation (addiction, etc). Admitting there is a problem is hard. But the second step is also hard. It means listening to others who are wiser, no matter who they are. Getting help means putting faith in someone else. In the spiritual/moral realm, that can mean turning to the Lord and then doing what we know from scripture and tradition is the way to healing. The folks in Nazareth could not stomach the thought that the local carpenter might be the Messiah!! Naaman becomes the example with which Jesus confronted them. How do we respond to Jesus' offer of healing? AMEN