HOMILY FOR MONDAY, 3RD WEEK IN LENT – YEAR B
THEME: NO CELEBRITY STATUS BEFORE GOD.
BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL
“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favour….He was a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.”
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The healing story of Naaman in the First Reading (2 Kings 5:1-15) is about power versus simplicity, entitlement versus grace, and pride versus humility. Naaman was a commander of the Syrian army, a mighty warrior with both physical strength and personal charisma. But he was a leper. The troubles of the earth do not know who is a celebrity. God doesn’t, too. Despite his position in society, Naaman was afflicted and humiliated by skin disease.
Naaman was troubled by his condition, and so was the king, his boss. They desperately needed a cure, and when all had failed, directed attention to Israel. And as a man of great wealth, he embarked on the journey with ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten festal garments. Sometimes, the mighty of this planet feel that everything can be bought with money. It is the way of the world. It has become a culture here in Nigeria. And so Naaman went to the fearful and helpless king of Israel with a powerful message from his boss. But Naaman ended up at Elisha’s door.
Naaman, who was used to unquestionable obedience and unquenchable power, was humiliated because the prophet would not even meet him at all. He sent his servant to him with the message, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times.” That was so strange.
Since pride blinds us from seeing the grace in common things of life, the commander became furious. He felt there were better waters in Syria. Naaman was so ignorant to understand that the means of God’s grace are not always the better in the sense of the world. Otherwise, the credit will be given to the tools and used. It took the courage of the servants (again useless slaves) to convince Naaman to accept the water of Jordan (catechesis and baptism). Jordan comes from the Hebrew word which means “descender” and Naaman was expected to “bring down low” his ego and pride to receive his healing. And for those who seek healing of either soul or body must be ready to go down low before God.
When Naaman obeyed, not only was his skin but his life was remade as he confessed his new-found faith that God existed nowhere but in Israel. Leprosy represents sin, and pride stands the way of sinner. Pride stands in the way of our healing. In the Gospel (Luke 4:24-30), pride would not allow the people of Nazareth to accept Jesus. By so doing, the blocked the entrance of salvation. God’s grace can be found in commonest places and among ‘useless’ people. He can use anyone to change our story. We should never hold so hard to our ego and pride that we can’t accept advice from those we consider commoners. We have to be ready to listen, for even nonsense can be a container of wisdom. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. Almighty God, grant us the grace of humility. May we recognise you in the common things of life. Bless us, our plans, and works this week through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning
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