Monday of the Third Week

Reflection
“If the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it?” So Naaman, a foreign army commander, was asked by his servants. He’d been told by the prophet Elisha in Israel that he should wash in the Jordan River to be cleansed from his leprosy. Naaman finally does this and is healed. Naaman expected something extraordinary would be asked of him. When we’re not tapped for the extraordinary mission, do we eventually listen, like Naaman, and do the ordinary task?

“When shall I go and behold the face of God?” sings the psalmist. Jesus tells the people in the  synagogue in Nazareth that they are closed to seeing God in familiar people and places. They don’t expect to see God’s face in local prophets. There were many widows, says Jesus, but it was only to the widow in Zarephath that Elijah was sent. There were many lepers in Israel, but only Naaman was cleansed. Where will we see God present?

 Elisha, Elijah, and Jesus did what God put in front of them to do...healing a man, eating with a widow, and noticing people who were poor, sick, and outcast. The soldier, the widow, and Jesus’ neighbors experienced God’s presence in the most unlikely, unexpected people and places.

 We see God, not when we’re looking for the important mission we are supposed to do, but in small, quiet moments or encounters or people we almost overlook.

 

Prayer
Holy Spirit, may we see You acting in the unexpected and ordinary events in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  

 Jan Hancock, M’12, P’99, P’09, Member of the Worshipping Community

 

Scripture
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-15b
Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4
Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website