Reflection: How often are we like Naaman and we question
God’s choice for how He will heal and lead our lives, or we expect great
“fireworks” of change, or we think we have a better idea of when and where our
healing should take place? We see Naaman
nearly walk away from God’s healing power because “I thought that he would
surely come out and stand there to invoke the Lord his God…Are not the rivers
of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar better than all the waters of
Israel?” Naaman thinks he knows better
and he can find a better plan for healing.
It is only by the pleadings and urgings of his servants that he follows
Elisha’s command, and God healing grace transforms his life.
Reflection
for younger saints:
Today we hear a story about how Elisha, through God’s healing power,
heals Naaman from leprosy. Naaman almost
walked away without obeying Elisha’s orders for how to be healed because he
thought he knew better and was expecting something else to provide healing from
his leprosy. His servants convinced him
to obey Elisha and he was healed.
Big
Picture: We do not
know better than God
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: Sometimes we expect God to provide us with great miracles of his healing power, just as Naaman did. When God speaks to us and guides us, is it always a powerful experience with visions and “fireworks.” (No, often God speaks to us and guides us in very small ways. He speaks to us when we quiet our hearts and take time to listen to him.) We saw in the story that Naaman almost walked away without receiving God’s healing, but his servants convinced him to trust Elisha and to trust God. Does God ask us to be like Naaman’s servants and help others to see God and trust God?
Older saints: Today we see an example of Naaman thinking he knows better how God should perform His healing. Do you ever do this in your own life, thinking you know better how and when your life should be healed and changed? We also see Naaman’s servants guide him and convince him to trust in the healing power of God. How can you be like Naaman’t servants and guide others to trust God?
Younger saints: Sometimes we expect God to provide us with great miracles of his healing power, just as Naaman did. When God speaks to us and guides us, is it always a powerful experience with visions and “fireworks.” (No, often God speaks to us and guides us in very small ways. He speaks to us when we quiet our hearts and take time to listen to him.) We saw in the story that Naaman almost walked away without receiving God’s healing, but his servants convinced him to trust Elisha and to trust God. Does God ask us to be like Naaman’s servants and help others to see God and trust God?
Older saints: Today we see an example of Naaman thinking he knows better how God should perform His healing. Do you ever do this in your own life, thinking you know better how and when your life should be healed and changed? We also see Naaman’s servants guide him and convince him to trust in the healing power of God. How can you be like Naaman’t servants and guide others to trust God?
Fun
Fact: The word
“liturgy” comes from a Greek word that means public work.
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Casimir
What they are remembered for: St. Casimir was born the 3rd of 15 children, and the son of a King. At an early age he devoted himself to prayer, sacrifice, and a future life of celibacy. After being drawn into war and political life at the age of 15, he vowed never again to be involved in such matters. He died at the age of 23 from lung problems.
Feast day: March 4
Patron Saint of: Lithuania, Poland, Russia
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Casimir
What they are remembered for: St. Casimir was born the 3rd of 15 children, and the son of a King. At an early age he devoted himself to prayer, sacrifice, and a future life of celibacy. After being drawn into war and political life at the age of 15, he vowed never again to be involved in such matters. He died at the age of 23 from lung problems.
Feast day: March 4
Patron Saint of: Lithuania, Poland, Russia
Daily Notes:
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