Theme: God does not see our background but the humble heart.
Scripture reading: 2 Kings 5:1-15; Ps. 41:2-3, 42:3-4; Lk. 4:24-30
We listen to the story of Naaman, the Syrian in the first reading. Naaman was a chief military commander. He had won the battle against Israel (1 Kings 22:35-36). He was a great and honourable man in the sight of his Syrian king. He was a man of valour. The same title was given to Jewish heroes such as Gideon, Jephthah, David, Jeroboam and Eliada. He was the only gentile who has been honoured with this title. It shows he had everything in his life but he was a leper. It was horrible and incurable disease. In such circumstances, Naaman took several steps to become humble before the Lord of Israel. We shall note them chronologically.
First, Naaman listened to a little girl who was carried off from the land of Israel. She gave personal witness to Naaman’s wife. Naaman listened to a little Jewish girl who belonged to different faith. He also listened to his wife although his culture never allowed his to listen to women. Secondly, Naaman decided to go to the land and the king who had been defeated by him. He had to become humble to approach the same enemy for a personal favour. Thirdly, Naaman had to bear the humiliation from the king of Israel. The King had failed to understand the real problem of Naaman. He had mistakenly torn his clothes. Fourthly, Naaman did not receive royal welcome at the door of Elisha. The prophet refused to give even personal audience. Naaman had thought that the prophet would say prayers or invoke name of God in his presence but instead he asked him to go to the river. Fifthly, he was asked to deep seven times in the river Jordon. It was humiliating to deep in Jordon because Syria had better rivers which were clean. Sixthly, he humbled himself to listen to his servant who convinced him to take bath in river Jordon. Lastly, he accepted God of Israel as the only God in all the earth. In these seven steps, Naaman who considered himself a great valiant man of Syria became humble before the God of Israel.
Jesus on the other hand was not afraid to display his humility before his people. He was brought up in Nazareth. They knew about him and about his family. Jesus was returning to the homeland after performing many sings. (Jn. 1-4) He was shoot up to fame. The people of Nazareth wanted Jesus to do the same in Nazareth (Lk. 4:23ff). According to famous maxim, Jesus knew that the prophets were not accepted in their own home town then he should not have come to Nazareth but Jesus chose to come to Nazareth. It is because Jesus was not ashamed of himself and being called carpenter’s son. He was not afraid of criticism. If Jesus were not to visit his hometown, then it would have been always a black spot in his life. Jesus gave opportunity to his people at hometown to witness him. While Jesus displayed his humility, he invited his people to be humble in their lives.
As we know the Jews at the time of Jesus considered themselves as privileged one, the chosen race. They thought that God would reveal himself to them, not to the pagans. Jesus made them aware with two examples of pagans who found favors in the sight of God; namely Naaman, the leper and a widow of Zeraphath, a Sidonian town. Jesus made them aware that it is not the proximity with the Lord or birth in Jewish belief or rich heritage will help them but the humility with which they approach the Lord will save them. Are we thinking the same like the people of Jesus’ hometown? Are we puff tuff with our knowledge of Jesus, birth in Catholic home/church or familiar with catholic culture? This will not help us but the humility in which we accept our sinful life. Let us turn to Jesus with a humbled heart.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
