Spiritual Leprosy

Reflections for Lent 2016 Week Three

There is a cultural force that associates the value of the human person with looks.   These forces can lead to a number of disorders; Bulimia, anorexia, anxiety, depression, and even suicide. 

Naaman struggles with his own physical imperfections caused by leprosy, so much so that he disregards the fact that he holds a high rank and is esteemed by the king.

Naaman becomes indignant when Elisha offers the cure to his illness because he has his gods to cure him.  He is vain and egotistical in his regard for the God of Israel being able to cure him of his own illness, but he misses the mark.  Though Naaman needs his body cleansed he is in need of a deeper healing than his physical leprosy. 

It is when Naaman has a conversion of heart, a metanoia, that he is able to be free from the chains of his idolatry, his way.

In the gospel Jesus is in the synagogue in Nazareth.  Jesus causes much grief when He reminds the people that only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed of his leprosy.  He is telling them that accepting God can cleanse non-Israelites and He is the prophet they wait for.

In what areas of our spiritual life are we lepers and how will we shed our ego and indignant attitudes so that we can enter into a deep personal relationship with Christ?  Are we concerned about looks and the physical aspects of our dispositions and neglecting the deep spiritual connection that brings us to the cleansing necessary to accept others?