There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet; and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian.”
On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town,
to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.

REFLECTION:
We know it well, it has become proverbial: no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
And Jesus cites two instances that everyone knew, that of the widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon who welcomed the propher Elijah
and the Syrian leper Naaman cured by the prophet Elisha. And we immediately think, rightly, of how much effort we make
in order to act precisely as Christians in our family, in our workplaces. Indeed, it is difficult!
However, let us also try to think of how many prophets we fail to recognize.
Maybe our own parish priest whom we are not fond of, our own neighbor who is quite strict, or the co-worker whom we are not friendly with.
Jesus asks us to open our hearts to be able to recognize all the good he can instill in the people around us,
people who sometimes becomes instruments through whom God reaches out to us. The world is full of pro­phecy, of clues, of signs, of refe­rences.
It is our gaze that no longer knows how to be amazed, that is no longer able to notice how much we have around us. This week,
let us commit ourselves to recognize the many prophets who walk beside us.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020