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Lenten Weekday
Exodus 3:1-8A, 13-15
1Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11
Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Luke 13:1-9
S
UMMARY
Our inability to trust in the abundance and healing of the Lord within the
ordinary human experience hinders true transformation.
R
EFLECTION
With great insight, while preaching in the temple, Jesus reflects on the fact
that prophets of the Old Testament were repeatedly rejected by those
closest to them. Although Jesus faces the same disbelief and disdain in his
native Nazareth, he alludes to the prophet Elisha, who – although he was
met with resistance – convinced Naaman, a foreigner and non-believer, to
wash in the muddy waters of the Jordan seven times to heal himself of
leprosy. Naaman, in his preconceived notions, lacked trust that the ordi-
nary (and seemingly unclean) waters of the Jordan, not the pure
rivers in Syria, would have healing power. Being coaxed by his
servants to comply, Naaman’s skin becomes like a child’s skin
again, a rather striking image that Jesus refers to many times in
his ministry: we must become like children to enter the Kingdom
of God.
In the past year, in my faith journey, I have been rather focused
on being able to listen better. I have expected that in my quest to
hear God that I would be struck with words of wisdom and les-
sons that would come in signs like the burning bush. Instead,
God has spoken to me in my own words, which left me wonder-
ing: How can I distinguish between God’s voice and my own
voice? A wonderful friend and advisor said to me, “Who else
would God choose to speak to you, but the person closest to you
– YOU!” When I read today’s readings, Jesus’ message that “
no