Homily, 3-4-24; Monday of the 3rd Week in Lent:
Jesus came to his own people, but His own people rejected Him. They had a lack of faith. In the verse prior to the passage we heard in our first reading, Jesus says: “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself’”. And it reminded me of the words of the crowd when Jesus hung upon the cross: “He saved others, let him save himself.”
The Jew rejected Jesus. He found more faith among the Gentiles. As He chastised the people for their lack of faith, He gives the examples of Naaman, a non-Jew, who was cured by Elisha, and the widow in Zarephaph, another non-Jew, who received a miracle at the hands of Elijah during the 7-year drought.
Miracles and healings are wonderful gifts from God that He performs when He wishes, not when we demand them. Miracles can often confirm our faith. Or, they can lead someone to faith as they did Naaman. But miracles should not be demanded as the reason for having faith as the Jews were demanding of Jesus. If you require a miracle to believe in Jesus, then it is not truly faith, is it. As Jesus told St. Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
The people in Jesus’ home town were the ones with the least faith. They knew His human nature well, but failed to see His divinity. Their vision was clouded by their familiarity with Him. He was one of them. Why should they think He was anyone special?
How easy is it for us to fall into the same trap. We will listen to advice from a perfect stranger, but not necessarily from our spouse. We follow an anonymous voice on the internet for medical advice, but disregard what our own doctor tells us. We go on pilgrimages to far-away places for healings, or to hear spiritual advice.
This is a good time to reflect and meditate on the basis and the foundation of your faith. Why is it that you believe in Jesus—who He is, what He has done for us, what He promises us, what He asks of us, how much He loves us? Pray that your faith be strengthened so that you do not seek after and demand signs and miracles before you will believe. Be open to let the Holy Spirit give you His gift of wisdom and understanding that will allow you to believe without seeing. Blessed will you be.