Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
In our first reading for today, Naaman had a problem. He was a leper. Although he was not a Jew, he was told that a person in Israel could heal him. So, out of desperation for the return of good health he eventually came before Elisha the prophet. Elisha told him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River and he would be healed.
Naaman was angry. It was too simple a remedy, he thought. It couldn’t work. It didn’t involve any special words, gestures, or wonderful potions. He left that place very disappointed.
His servants then reasoned with Naaman. “Give it a try,” they said. And he did just that. He went into the Jordan River seven times and after the seventh time his skin was leprosy-free. Amazing what can happen when we listen to the voice of God, whether it comes to us from a prophet like Elisha, the written word of the Bible, the teaching of our Church, or the Spirit that speaks to us in the silent recesses of our heart.
We believe that whoever enters into the waters of baptism, whether infant or adult, comes out a new creation. It’s as simple as that. Just have faith and do what is required. For those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil, realize that God will work wonders for you. For those of us already baptized, recall the grace of the divine life we have received, the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Now cleansed of original sin, we have been made into a son or daughter of God. May we all live our baptismal call to be disciples of Jesus, into whom we have been baptized and by whom we have been saved.