3rd WEEK OF LENT (A) : Monday 9th March 2026

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes reference to Naaman the Syrian whose story we hear in the first reading. The story itself is very moving, not only because the prophet Elisha was able to cure the man of the terrible disease which he suffered, but also because a Gentile came to recognise the God of Israel to be the only God.

Naaman was expecting that the prophet would engage in an elaborate ritual, but was disappointed to be asked to do something so simple as wash in the local river. While at first he left in anger, he later came to his senses and performed the simple act required of him, resulting in the cure of his leprosy.

What lesson can we draw from this? Perhaps it is the fact that what the Lord requires of us this Lenten season for our own inner healing is not something extraordinarily difficult. We don’t have to go on a distant pilgrimage, perform extravagant rituals, or engage in dramatic acts of penitence.

What the Lord asks of us is quite simple – to open our hearts to Him. It is when we finally turn to Him, admit our own powerlessness to overcome our bad habits and sinfulness, recognise God’s desire to heal us, and allow God’s grace to work within us, that we will find healing.

Too often we try to heal ourselves, and like Naaman, think we can buy our way to healing, or take charge of our own self-reform. In fact, it is when we give up trying to heal ourselves that God will be able to begin His work of grace.

PRAYER:  Lord, heal me of my infirmities and sin.