3/9/2015 – Monday of the third week of Lent – 2 Kings 5:1-15AB

      Lepers were usually isolated from the rest of society in the ancient world, since people were in such fear of contracting that horrible disease. Yet, we hear in our first reading from the 2^nd book of Kings about a military commander named Naaman, a leper who was highly esteemed by the King and his people.  Naaman had a lot of power and influence.   He thinks that the prophet Elisha should present himself to him and perform some tremendous miracle that is befitting a man of Naaman’s power and status, curing him of his leprosy.  He brings the king of Israel a great tribute of riches, and now he wants to be accorded great dignity and respect, and all he gets is an order to bathe in the river.  His servants and a slave girl that is captured from Israel are the ones who persuade Naaman to swallow his pride and to submit to the healing that the prophet presents to him.  So often on our journey of faith, we can be like Naaman, can’t we?  We can let our pride get in the way.  We have good intentions like Naaman, we can do a lot right, but then at the last minute, our pride can drive a wedge between us and God and our brothers and sisters. Humility goes a long way on our journey of faith.  And being a humble servant is something that Jesus addresses in his teachings again and again.  We are reminded of the word on our rubber wristbands this Lenten season – SACRFICIUM – SACRIFICE.   May we humble our hearts and be the servants that our faith calls us to be.