HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT

Homily for Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent. 

2 Kings 5:1-15a. Psalm 42:2,3; 43:3,4. Luke 4:24-30.

The story of the healing of Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Syria in the first reading, was a result of a little maid from the land of Israel who spoke to Naaman's wife about the healing power of Elisha the prophet in Israel.

Naaman, on the other hand, would not have received his healing if he had refused to listen to a simple instruction, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean" (2 Kings 5:10). He refused to obey this simple instruction, but his servant advised him otherwise, and he listened. This resulted in his healing.

With this healing, Naaman returned back to testify to the power of God, saying, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel" (2 Kings 5:15).

In today's Gospel, the people of Nazareth, as a result of their familiarity with Jesus, blinded them to the mission of Jesus.

Similarly, the familiarity of many Christians with the word of God has often blinded them to its purpose. The word of God is living and active. We, too, can easily fail to recognise the voice of God in certain people who, in fact, whether they are aware of it or not, are bringing a message from God. 

God still uses people to guide our steps into his goodness, so let us be careful not to put them off. Rather, we should recognise and appreciate them.

Jesus, in today's Gospel, still mentioned how God used a stranger to preserve the life of prophet Elijah from the great famine that befell Israel during the time of Elijah.

May our familiarity with the things of God bring us closer to Him through Christ our Lord. Amen.