Today’s Monday readings offer us a profound reflection on healing, faith, and God’s universal love. In the Old Testament, we encounter Naaman, a powerful commander of the Aramean army who, despite his military prowess, struggles with a debilitating disease that renders him an outsider—leprosy. The young Israelite girl, a captive in Naaman’s household, plays a pivotal role in this story. Her simple yet powerful faith leads Naaman on a journey that challenges his understanding of healing and humility.
Naaman’s wealth and status create an expectation: he assumes that healing will come easily, through grandeur—a dramatic display of power by the prophet. Instead, he is told to wash in the humble waters of the Jordan seven times. His initial reaction is one of anger and pride; he refuses to accept something so simple, so beneath his status. This moment reveals to us a critical truth: our healing comes through our humble faith in God.
As Naaman’s servants gently reason with him, we see how essential it is to be open to insights from those whom we might overlook. Humility leads him to dive into the Jordan, and in that act of obedience, he is transformed—not just physically, but spiritually. His proclamation, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel,” indicates not only his healing but also a recognition of the true power of God working beyond boundaries and expectations.
In the Gospel, Jesus echoes this theme of God’s transcendence and how divine grace often extends beyond our typical notions of who is deserving. He cites the examples of Elijah and Elisha, emphasizing that the widows and lepers who received God’s mercy were not from Israel but outsiders—Zarephath and Naaman, the very Gentiles in a time when the Israelites believed themselves to be the sole recipients of God’s favor. The joy and amazement intended by Jesus turns into fury among the crowd because He challenges their exclusivity.
Both readings ask us to reflect on our own entitled and exclusive positions. Are we open to the unexpected ways God may bring healing not only in our lives but in that of others? Do we, like Naaman initially, resist because the path seems too simple or humble? And do we find ourselves harboring exclusivity in who we believe God’s love should be extended to?
As we meditate upon the psalmist's cry, “Athirst is my soul for the living God,” let us remember that our thirst for God can lead us to places and people we least expect. It challenges us to recognize that God’s love is not contained within our limitations but flows freely like the waters of the Jordan.
In our lives, we may be Naaman—a mixture of pride, desperation, and hope. Our task is to not reject God’s direction simply because it does not come from the place or person we anticipated. Just as Naaman had to relinquish his expectations, we are challenged to let go of the barriers we place on ourselves and others, allowing God to be God and trusting in him more completely.
As we continue our day, let us keep our eyes open to the unexpected answers to our prayers. Just like Naaman, may we find the courage to embrace humility and openness, allowing God's grace to shape our understanding that we are all his sons and daughters. Amen
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The reflections get better by the day Father