Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15, Ps. 42:2-3,42:3-4, Luke 4:24-30
“And they rose and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.” (Luke 4:29)
Naaman was a commander in the Syrian army. Although he was very successful as a soldier, he was also a leper. What a contradiction! Like Naaman, there are many successful people in our world who have some form of leprosy - something they are ashamed of that keeps them awake at night or makes their success meaningless in their eyes. Given their wealth and societal position, they don’t mind spending millions to solve their problem. Here is a bitter truth – money doesn’t solve every problem. No matter how much money you have, you can never replace God. Let us now consider other lessons contained in today’s readings:
1. Never Look Down On What is Yours: Humans find it difficult to value what belongs to them. You struggle to acquire something today, and by tomorrow, it will have become worthless in your eyes. We do not value things produced in our country and are the first to criticise our people when they do something good. Meanwhile, we idolise those from distant places. This phenomenon was the sickness Jesus tried to correct when He cited the example of Naaman and the widow of Zaraphath in today’s Gospel passage.
Could God have blessed me, but I have yet to appreciate the opportunities around me fully? The story is told of a beggar who was sitting on a box. A stranger said to him: “What is inside the box?” He answered: “I don’t know, I have never opened it. I found it in a dumpsite many years ago and used it as a stool. I don’t think there is anything in it.” Here is a bitter truth – if you fail to look inward, you could complain for nothing. Like a horse that one has led to a river, God will never force us to drink water. When we fail to use our gifts and opportunities, God will give them to others. If we don’t recognise our prophets, only foreigners will benefit from them.
2. Never Look Down On Anyone: Some time ago, I saw a beautiful story on social media titled: “Kingmakers Do Not Live in Palaces.” It was the story of how a man applied for the Nigerian Navy and was asked to come for training in Kaduna. While discussing with a colleague in the office how difficult it has been for him to contact a friend who lived in Kaduna, the office cleaner mentioned that the Chief of Naval Staff was his elder brother. The cleaner gave him a note and said, “Give this note to my brother and see what will happen.” Just as the cleaner promised, the Chief warmly received the man and stayed at his house for some days. At the end of the training, his name was number one on the list of successful candidates.
What would have happened if this man was not on good terms with the cleaner? Does it strike a chord that it was a slave girl who suggested to Naaman’s wife that there is a prophet in Israel capable of curing his leprosy? How do you treat your workers (or subordinates)? Are there persons around me that I consider as good for nothing? Here is another bitter truth – no human being is useless. You have yet to progress because you continue looking down on those whom God has sent your way to bless you. Imagine Naaman telling this slave girl: “Shut up! What do you know?”
3. Never Look Down On Any Place: Naaman flared up when Elisha told Naaman to bathe seven times in the Jordan. He felt insulted that the prophet did not come out “to stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the leprous spot, and cure him” like magicians do. Naaman was expecting a display like what we see in our ‘miracle centres’. He was also angry because the Jordan River wasn’t as clean as the rivers of Damascus. Here is again another bitter truth – what matters is your obedience, not your location. Some people believe they can never make it in this country; their only desire is to travel abroad. As Jesus told us, “Seek first God’s kingdom,” put God first, and obey His commandments. God can bless you anywhere.
4. Not Every Insult is Truly an Insult: Another bitter truth is that truth often comes wrapped in a special cloak called ‘insult.’ You start growing the day you start seeing insult as education rather than humiliation. When the truth hits us hard, we immediately resist it because it opposes what we are used to; it challenges our pride and sense of security. Like the audience in today’s Gospel passage, we may assume we are being insulted if we don’t reflect on it. Avoid praise singers; they are like that rat that blows air on its victim before feasting on its flesh. They make you feel good about yourself while you walk majestically into their trap.
5. Never be Scared of Telling People the Truth: Keeping quiet or painting the truth does not help anyone in the long run. They may stone you or try to kill you. Have no fear. God will protect you. No one could kill Jesus before His time. We do not know how He managed to escape from their midst when they led Him to the hill, but we know that our lives are in God’s hands, and no one can kill us before our time.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, grant me increased faith. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 3rd week of Lent. Bible Study: 2 Kings 5:1-15, Ps. 42:2-3,42:3-4, Luke 4:24-30).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu