Daily Readings - Mon Mar 16 2020
2 Kings
1Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.2Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife.3She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."4So Naaman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel."5And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel."So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothes.6And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy."7And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me."8But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel."9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.10And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean."11But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.13But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"14So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.15Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."
Luke
24And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.25But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land,26and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.27And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."28When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath.29And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.30But passing through their midst, he went away.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, humility, and God’s universal mercy. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we encounter Naaman, a powerful military leader from Syria who suffers from leprosy. Despite his wealth and status, Naaman is directed by a young Israelite servant girl to seek healing from the prophet Elisha in Samaria. Initially, Naaman is offended by Elisha’s simple instruction to bathe seven times in the Jordan River, but eventually, he humbles himself and follows the prophet’s words, resulting in his miraculous healing. This story underscores the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when His ways seem mysterious or unconventional.
In the Gospel, Jesus references Naaman’s story during His preaching in the synagogue at Nazareth. He points out that during the time of Elijah, God’s mercy was extended not to the widows of Israel but to a widow in Sidon, and during Elisha’s time, it was not an Israelite but Naaman, a Syrian, who was healed of leprosy. This message angers the people of Nazareth because it challenges their assumption that God’s blessings are reserved exclusively for them. Jesus’ words remind us that God’s love and mercy are not limited by nationality, race, or social status. His grace is universal, and He often reveals Himself to those who are unexpected and marginalized.
These readings call us to examine our own hearts and attitudes. Like Naaman, we may find ourselves resistant to God’s ways because they do not align with our expectations or pride. Yet, true faith requires humility and openness to His plan, even when it seems strange or uncomfortable. Similarly, like the people of Nazareth, we may struggle with the idea that God’s mercy extends beyond our own circle. Today’s readings remind us that God’s love is not confined to us; it is for all people. Let us ask for the grace to embrace this truth with humility and generosity of spirit, trusting in His providence and living as instruments of His universal love.