If it isn’t complicated, or difficult, or out of the ordinary, we might think it isn’t God at work in the world. But God works in many ways, including those that are simple.
Before you can understand how Naaman goes down to the Jordan, washes according to Elisha’s instructions, and finds himself with the flesh of a little child, you will need to know some key information that isn’t part of today’s reading, it actually appears on the Monday of the third Sunday in Lent. I understand if you do not remember. What’s missing is that Naaman doesn’t want to wash seven times in the Jordan, a river that, by the way, he considers to be inferior to his own rivers back home.
God accomplishes the miracle, or course, but this story also has a human hero. It’s not Naaman. And it’s not even Elisha It’s actually Naaman’s servants. These servants, who aren’t even named, come to Naaman with impeccable logic. If Elisha had prescribed a hard ritual, perhaps something involving rare feathers, minerals minerals deep beneath the earth, and seventy-seven days of chanting in a cave, Naaman would have done it, and gladly. But because Elisha didn’t even come out of his house, and because the instructions are so easy, Naaman decides that they can’t possibly . He was offended and angry, and still leprous. But the servants are right. And Naaman, a man of charge of armies, finally listens to them.
Sometimes a miracle is announced by an angel. Sometimes by a prophet. Sometimes by no visible presence to all. But sometimes, a miracle is announced by the person or people you’d least expect. Yes, Naaman is healed of his leprosy, but he’s healed of something else as well, which is his expectation that he knows how God works. There is a teaching here for us too.
SO THE QUESTION : THINK ABOUT SOME TIMES THAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD GOD’S VOICE COMING FROM THE HUMBLES OF MESSENGERS OR SITUATIONS.
PRAYER TO ST. JUDE: St. Jude, apostle of Christ, the church honors and prays to you universally as the patron of hopeless and difficult cases. Pray for us in our needs. Make use, we implore you of this powerful privilege given to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is needed. Pray that we humbly accept the trials and disappointments and mistakes which are a part of our human nature. Help us to see the reflection of the suffering of Christ in the trials and tribulations of our lives. Let us see in a spirit of great faith and hop the part we even now share in the joy of Christ’s resurrection and which we long to share fully in heaven. Intercede that we may again experience this joy in answer to our present needs. If it is God’s dire for us (here make your request) we know our prayers will be heard through your intercession. AMEN