Being open to others is a blessing!

March 4, Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Memorial of Saint Casimir
Daily Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15a, Luke 4:24-30. St. Casimir, Prince Confessor

The openness of Naaman, the great and victorious commander of the Aramean army, is admirable.  He is open to the perspective of the war-captive little girl from Samaria. He is open to healing from the Jewish prophet, who is in Samaria, although his extravagant expectations of the prophet put him off. What makes him angry is the superiority complex he suffers because of his false patriotism. But he is once again open to his servants, who insist that he should do what the prophet says. We can see that he considers even the opinions of insignificant people.

Jesus, the Son of God, narrates his experience of rejection in Nazareth, his hometown, and how the so-called alienated people found God reaching out to them. There was a famine in Israel during the time of Prophet Elijah. Only a Sidonian widow at Zarephath can experience God’s providence through her generosity to the man of God.

Similarly, among all the lepers who lived at that time, only Naaman the Syrian received healing because of his openness and faithful obedience to the word of the prophet. These great examples do not go well with the people of Nazareth. Instead of learning something good for their lives, they are enraged enough to drive Jesus out of town and lead him to the brow of the hill to kill him. He continues on his way, as his time has not yet come. Everything happens according to the will of God!

Call to Action for Catholic Living: God has a special love for non-Israelites. He embraces all. How is my attitude towards people of other faiths?