3rd Week of Lent 2023 - Monday - Trust God, Be Washed, Accept Persecution

 

Naaman, the Syrian army commander, had the worst disease imaginable, leprosy.  So her fervently sought a cure, convincing his King to sacrifice an enormous amount of wealth for a cure.  He even traveled to Jerusalem, to Elisha the prophet of a God that he did not claim to be his own.  And Naaman felt that Elisha's remedy insulted his intelligence: wash seven times in the dirty Jordan river, when there were so many other rivers with cleaner water back home in Syria.  

But notice how God convinced Naaman to relent to this remedy. A group of humble servants convinced him: “If the prophet would have instructed you to do something HARD, would you have done it?”  “Of course,” said Naaman.  Then why won't you do what the prophet asked?”  We know the rest of the story, Naaman went, and washed, and his leprosy was cured.

What a quintessential Lenten scripture reading! God wants to heal us. We need to trust God that, yes, through ordinary practices like prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, God can bring healing to our leprous souls. We need to trust God. Trust the Church. Trust the Saints: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving work!

The story also contains a foreshadowing of the sacrament of Christian baptism—the easter waters. Ordinary waters are transformed into the saving waters in which people of every nation are called to trust God and be cleansed and saved. 

Naaman’s story also contains a foreshadowing of our Easter mission. We are called to be that group of humble servants that convince the doubtful to trust in the One True God and to be baptized. 

And yet, our Gospel contains another lesson. Yes, those waters bring cleansing. Yes, we are sent to all people to invite them to bathe in those waters. Will all people accept that invitation? No. In fact, in the same manner as the people of Nazareth were enraged by Jesus for speaking the truth to them, and drove him to the edge of the cliff to kill him, so they shall do the same with us.

When we say Lent prepares us for Easter, that also includes toughening us up to accept the persecution that comes from being faith to the Lord. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving bring us purification, but also fortitude, for the work God has in store for us. May we use this time wisely, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Holy Father, Pope Francis on the 10th anniversary of his pontificate, that the Holy Spirit may continue to guide and bless his pontificate, his leadership, and sustain him in his trials. 

That our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving may humble our earthly pride and bring about conversion and renewal within the Church.

For all those preparing to enter into Christ through the saving waters of Baptism and those preparing for full initiation this Easter, may these final Lenten weeks bring about purification from sin and enlightenment in the ways of holiness.

For souls in our neighborhood to accept the invitation to baptism and faith.

For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or illness: may they experience the healing graces of Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, for the repose of the soul of the poor 7 year old boy who was shot and killed on Cleveland’s west side this weekend, for the consolation of his family and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.