One
of the African proverbs says, “Familiarity breeds contempt; distance brings
respect.” One of the greatest privileges a child can have is growing up in an
authentic Christian home: a home where both the father and mother endeavor to
love God with all their hearts and strengths, loving their neighbor as
themselves, and bringing their children in the fear of the Lord. But this
wonderful privilege can be an incredible danger in that faithless familiarity
can breed contempt, that is taking things or persons for granted. The child can
be confident about the Christian knowledge, but they are utterly coldhearted to
the true nature of Christianity and their need for the Gospel of Jesus. This is
the exact scenario we find in the Gospel of today. The Nazarenes had a great
privilege of unlimited access to Jesus, and intimate participation in his
ministry, but their familiarity with him did not lead them to faith in Jesus.
They received the teaching of Jesus with displeasure, such that they became
enraged and wanted to kill him. What are the effects of our familiarity to
Catholic teachings and doctrines? Did our personal experience with Jesus bring
transformation or contempt?
Faithless
familiarity is also reflected in the first reading of today. Despite God giving
success to the Syrians in battle against Israel, turning his back on his
people, Israel, coming to the aid of foreigners, yet Naaman failed to listen to
the command of the Lord. By his ego, experience, reason and desires, he wants
things in his own way, and he wants to be saved in his own way. God includes
Naaman, a Gentile, who is unclean in his covenant. It is a classic picture of
the love of God to those who live in darkness. God’s gift of salvation and
blessings are free. We just need open and receptive hearts and come to God in
faith to embrace the gift of salvation and blessings from him. Two things which
can hinder us to experience the blessings from God are our pride and opinions.
Naaman almost lose the gift of healing because of his pride, and he almost lost
out his healing because of his thinking which was contrary to Scripture. In
Proverbs 6:17 we read that, “God hates haughty eyes, or proud looks.” Elisha
invites Naaman to humble himself and, “wash in the Jordan seven times.” A very
simple thing to do, surely, but Naaman reacted with indignation. It takes great
humility to be open, listen and accept the message of Jesus Christ with faith
instead of rage and fury. The Bible says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and
you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The issue here is not about washing and be
clean. That would not cure him. It is about the obedience of faith, a personal
faith in the command of the Word of God. Let us submit ourselves humbly to the
plan of God for us to experience salvation, real joy and deliverance in our
lives.
Kudzai
Innocent
IV
Year Theology
0 comments:
Post a Comment