In the story of Naaman the Leper, we are struck by a number of things which can turn what would otherwise be a tragic lot in life, into a wonderful and adventurous relationship with the true a living God.
As a general of an army in Syria, Naaman was highly respected and had ascended the ranks of the Syrian military. Yet all the power, honour, wealth that his success afforded him was kept somber by a debilitating leprosy which saw him waning in his spirit. Sometimes the Lord allows for a “thorn in the flesh” as he did with Saint Paul as well, so as to keep one from becoming too puffed up, forgetting that unless the Lord is with us, we can do nothing.
And then, a servant girl who was a spoil of war that the Syrian army had taken from a conquest won against God’s own people, which is a great irony, indicates to the commander’s wife that in Israel there is a great prophet who had the power to heal.
Naaman listens. Even though this is a young girl making this suggestion, the high and mighty commander listens! And herein is one of the greatest takeaways for us during Lent: listening to and being attentive to the ways God speaks to us.
With such noise out there in the world, which at times can be deafening, it is so important to allow the voice of God to make it through to us. And sometimes it comes to us in the most unexpected ways … in ways that only indicate to us that God is about to do something special. For through this tiny girl, he triggers a chain of events which would alter Naaman’s life, and by extension, the life of many others, forever. He listens, he goes to Israel, he is healed! Then comes the great and wonderful realization: ‘Now I know’ he said ‘that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.’
Saint Francis of Assisi also came to that realization, when after having heard the voice of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, speak to him from the crucifix in the tiny lowly chapel of San Damiano, a number of events would ensue through which he would come to know that God alone can be the author of such incredible gifts and graces.
All of this is good news, and things in which we can rejoice. What happens however when the voice of God is not received? What happens when God himself is shunned, and his messengers persecuted? Well, healing is thwarted, decay remains, and death is usually the consequence. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus, who came to conquer death out of love for us, is feeling the bitterness of God’s rejection. God who alone gives us all that is good; God who alone can work the signs which Jesus worked, is rejected. Jesus reminds the people that when it comes to God’s fidelity and justice he is no respecter of persons. He loves all, and wants the best for every individual, notwithstanding religious affiliation, for no leper in Israel was healed excepted Naaman in those days, who was a Syrian.
What set Naaman apart from the rest, then? His faith, obedience and humility. He listened to the counsel of a little servant girl. What set Saint Francis apart from his contemporaries? Faith, obedience and his humility. He listened to the voice of the crucified Lord, and set out to rebuild the Church with love and not by hurling stones at its sinful prelates, as did other penitential movements, who tried to shame the corrupt pastors into converting for the better, but through living the gospel and becoming poor in spirit, he conquered the pride of the masses. As we see in our readings today and in the lives of Naaman and Saint Francis and in the urgent concern of our Lord, God rewards the humble and blesses all those who seek him with a pure heart.
May our hearts be receptive to his purifying love as we continue our Lenten journey.
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