Dear Brothers and Sisters,
If we have faith the size of a mustard seed it will be strong enough to uproot this tree and throw it into the sea, Jesus said, in the gospel last week. This tiny seed is Christ himself who was given to us in Baptism and will grow in us if it is nourished by prayer, good example, the sacraments and a holy life. It does not happen automatically, but it is not difficult either.
Years ago, at the suggestion of a friend I sat down a few times and made a list of all the things God had given me over the course of my forty-so years of life. This exercise blew me away when I saw how many gifts I had actually received. Until that point, I had the impression that I got a bad hand of cards in life. The event of writing them down and then speaking about them made a huge difference to me and I imagine it would do the same to you.
Even the Lord said in today’s gospel, “Where are the other nine?” Referring to the lepers who were cleansed but did not return to give thanks to the one who cured them. They thought more highly of their cure than of the one who healed them.
Naaman, a Syrian commander, did not expect the Jordan River would cure his skin disease. But he humbled himself, thanks to his servants who encouraged him to obey what the prophet told him. He went down to the Jordan and entered it seven times and his flesh became like that of a child.
Naaman returned to Elisha, a twenty-mile trip, and offered a huge number of gifts. Elisha refused them. What we heard today is that Naaman took two mule-loads of earth back to his country so that he could worship only the God of Israel on his soil. What a beautiful act of gratitude.
A leper at that time, had to keep twenty feet away from people, could not enter the temple or synagogue, lived a very isolated life, which was perhaps more painful than the leprosy. Today I sense the same thing happens a lot and was very much intensified because of Covid. People have become very isolated and alone and this is a great tragedy. We are not meant to live alone but in communion with others as God does even within himself.
Many people want to be apart from others and live for themselves. They seek only their own comfort and what is easier for them. The kids are for me, my work is for me, my spouse is for me, and this is very sad. Let us call out to the Lord as these lepers did: Master, have pity on me, help me to not be alone, to have the courage to speak of my weaknesses, which is where I find the Lord.
The first step in overcoming any weakness or sin or addiction is to bring it to the light, to speak about it. This is why the sacrament of confession is so important. But also, in your family or community or group of friends it is good to be sincere about our struggles and the Lord will help us. He will not leave us alone.