Greetings on this the Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Readings: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab; PS 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Lk 4:24-30
Notes
The widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon and Naaman the Syrian received extraordinary gifts from the Lord. The widow, but a cup of water and a crust of bread. The general, asked to dip himself in the Jordan river seven times. These are relatively small things but, in context, big movements of faith.
- The cup of water and crust of bread from a woman who has nothing and is anticipating death for her and her son.
- The bathing in the Jordan a humbling experience for a well decorated and respected general.
Wealth (the failure of possessions) and pride (the failure of self-reliance).
Elijah and Elisha, prophets of God, were the agents of the Lord’s compassion.
If the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.
Summary
We often mistake the scale of the ‘ask of us’ with the scale of the gift to us. The gift minimized and the ‘ask’ maximized. A problematic distortion of reality.
Reflection
Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Jesus did extraordinary things – for others – and there was discontent in his native place. Jesus pointed out that Elijah and Elisha performed extraordinary things for people outside of the tribe. This simple observation nearly cost his life.
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
Personal Reflection
Jesus does not ask of me the extraordinary nor does he ask it of you. We need to respect the ask that is made and not be jealous of the gifts given to whomever they are given.
Walk rightly before the Lord and be at peace in his love for you and providing every good thing.
I take heart in the psalmist cry:
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
First Reading
So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.”
Responsorial
Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Gospel Acclamation
I hope in the LORD, I trust in his word; with him there is kindness and plenteous redemption.
Gospel
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry