THE HEALING OF NAAMAN AND THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS--MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT

Readings 2Kgs 5:1-15; Lk 4:24-30

Jesus came for the total healing of all who would believe in him. It is a paradox that he came to his own, but they did not recognize him. They were blinded by their familiarity with him. The first reading tells the story of cure of the Syrian official, Naaman. One thing is phenomenal about the process of the cure of Naaman. He was told to bath seven times in the river Jordan. This he did and was whole again. The seven times bathing of Naaman points to the seven sacraments we have in the church today. Through them, Christ continues to grant integral healing to our physical and spiritual leprosies. Sometimes, our familiarity with these sacraments blinds us from benefiting from their efficacies. This is the kind of familiarity that made the Jews despise Jesus. Consequently, Jesus did not perform much miracle among his own people due to their lack of faith.

 In this Lenten period, let us avail ourselves of the opportunity of benefiting from the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation (penance). Sin is a kind of leprosy that eats deep into our life. Sin is at the base of all spiritual and physical infirmity. A lot of people have testified to healing received from going to confession. What are you still waiting for? Christ is waiting for us at the confessional to wash out our spiritual and physical leprosy. Remember, during the time of Elisha, there were many lepers in Israel but only Naaman, the Syrian was healed. Those who recognize the power are healed by the power.