The Holy and Glorious Prophet Elijah (Elias) (9th c. BC).
All-Night Vigil Feast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
James 5:10-20; Luke 4:22-30.
Read Luke 4:22-30
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
There is an old saying that “familiarity breeds contempt”. One of the reasons this is true is because we generally uncomfortable around events and persons that challenge our sense of normality, or the way we believe things are or should be.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ hearers, believing that they already know him and his family, react negatively to his preaching and miracles. Why? Perhaps it is because the message He was preaching – repent for the kingdom of God is at hand – and the powerful signs that accompanied it, made them uncomfortable and challenged their understanding of who Jesus was and ultimately about who God was. For the majority of these people, Jesus was simply Joseph’ son, and in their understanding – the son of the village carpenter should not call his fellow men to repentance, not should he work miracles.
Jesus exposes this understanding of Himself and his mission as superficial. Jesus is far more than the son of Joseph – he is the Son of God! This is another challenge to the normal understanding of the Jews. For them God is utterly transcendent -He does not become Incarnate, and walk among His people.
Jesus uses the examples of the widow Zarephath, and Naaman the Syrian to explain to the people that God has worked in unexpected ways and in unexpected places to bring healing and salvation in the past – “there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Eli′sha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Na′aman the Syrian”
St. Ambrose of Milan teaches us that the miracle of the cleansing of his leprosy was given to Naaman so that in being healed he might recognize the power and truth of the God of Israel. (cf De Sacramentis, III 15-18). Even Naaman doubted because what has asked of him did not conform to his expectation as to what the true God or a true prophet of God should be like. Ultimately Naaman submits to what is beyond his understanding and as result is healed and turns to the worship of the true God.
God’s activity in our lives often unfolds in unexpected ways, beyond our comprehension and sometimes contrary to our expectations. The example of Naaman’s healing, despite initial doubts, exemplifies the transformative power of submitting to the call of God. The same is true in our lives – if we strive to submit to what Christ asks of us, though it may be uncomfortable or challenge our expectations of normalcy, the result will be the healing we need.