The similarity between the first reading and the Gospel regarding the healing of a leper might tempt us to look no further in the readings for meaning. These two stories are straightforward enough: Namaan and the unnamed leper are healed, both are foreignes, and both come to faith in God through their healing. What, however, is the challenge for us in the readings this week?The first answer to that question lies in the generosity of God's gifts of compassion and mercy. In the time of Elisha the prophet the faith of Israel in God was once again at a low point. The prophet had been pushed aside to the margins, since the leaders and people of Israel would not listen to the words of the prophet. In the midst of this setting God heals Namaan the Syrian through the ministry of Elisha. Similarly, the Gospel story recounts the event where Jesus heals ten lepers without question. All are healed, but only one returns to thak Jesus for this great gift. In both stories we see Elisha and Jesus break social conventions: it was forbidden to have contact with those who are unclean, and it was forbidden for the unclean to approach others. The compassion and mercy of God extend to all and are not limited by our social conventions and laws.
The second part of an answer to the challenge of the readings is found in the act of thanksgiving both Namaan and the unnamed beneficiary of the Gospel reading. Neither Elisha nor Jesus place any conditions on the supplicants who approach them for assistance: they perform the compassion and mercy of God without deciding whether or not they "deserve" God's help or not. None of us deserves God's compassion and mercy, yet we have all received them in abundance. These two characters recognize this fact and thank God. Their lives have been changed by the experience and they live new lives of gratitude. Namaan commits himself to the God of Israel; the man in the Gospel story too becomes a person of great faith. That faith leads to a life of gratitude to God.
Still, a life of faith and thanksgiving are still not enough. Paul provides the most important challenge to us: Remember Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Does such a remembrance merely recall these past events as wonderful stories that happened long ago to other people? Or, is our remembrance sacramental in nature? The latter type of remembrance is one where the person we recall is not merely some historical figure, but someone who is alive and present to us. To remember Jesus Christ is not the same as remembering George Washington. When we remember the ministry of Jesus it should change us profoundly; it should call us to imitate him in the way we live our lives.
Pope Benedict XVI stated, "The man who has hope lives his life differently." (Spe Salvi, #2). We might well ask the question, "Different from what?" The world encourages us to live for ourselves, to satisfy our every desire and whim, and to neglect the needs of others. Such a life cannot have any room for God because there is already another god present - ourselves. When we live by hope we are remembering Jesus Christ and the manner in which he lived: a life of total service to others, a life of bringing the compassion and mercy of God to others without qualification; a life of radical solidarity with every single person because each and every one is a child of God. Thus, to live in hope is to live the life of Jesus Christ in the particular circumstances of our life today.
Namaan and the healed foreigner came to live lives of hope through their recognition of God's compassion and mercy in their lives. May we come to recognize God's compassion and mercy in our lives, and through that recognition come to be the compassion and mercy of God to others. We pray, then, for such assistance as we join our intentions with that of the opening prayer for Mass: "Let us pray that God will help us to love one another. Lord, our help and guide, make your love the foundation of our lives. May our love for you express itself in our eagerness to do good for others. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen."
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