Monday of the Third Week of Lent
(II Kings 5:1-15a; Luke 4:24-30)
The man had grown up in the Church of Christ. Studying for the ministry with that
denomination, he was impressed by his history professor’s presentation of the
Church Fathers. He came to realize that
he could not serve as a Protestant minister.
He withdrew from the ministry track and became a Catholic. Both readings
today touch on the need for such a gentle conversion.
In the first, Naaman, the leper-general, is outraged by the simplicity
of the prophet Elisha’s order. Urged to
comply anyway, he is healed of the disease.
Rather than acknowledge the prophet for the cure, Naaman recognizes the source
of the prophet’s ability, the Lord of Israel.
In the gospel the people rebel when Jesus presents himself as the Lord’s
anointed. They refuse conversion by which
they would no longer see Jesus as a kid who grew up among them. They would acknowledge him as God’s messenger.
Lent calls us to a change of heart and mind. We are to recognize the Lord in simple things
like Naaman. More critically, we are to beyond
the challenge of Jesus’ townsfolk to accept him as our Lord and God.
