Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Luke 4:24-30
The God of small things!

During our Lenten journey, the Gospel encourages us to contemplate our human inclination toward indignation. The people of Nazareth and Naaman from the Scriptures exemplify this response when confronted with God’s simplicity. Although initially astonished by Jesus’ message, the people of Nazareth quickly erupted in anger when they realised, he was preaching a God different from the one they had been familiar with. They thought, they knew him too well. This contempt drove them to violence, ultimately rejecting the divine presence among them.

Similarly, Naaman, although open to faith, reacted with anger when the prophet Elisha instructed him to bathe in the Jordan to be healed. He expected a grand gesture, rather than the simplicity of God’s command (cf. 2 Kings 5:10-12). Both stories reveal how pride and the desire for the extraordinary can blind us to God’s presence in everyday life.

God operates in simplicity, often through our daily tasks, quiet prayers, and small acts of kindness. In contrast, worldly temptations lure us to pursue grandeur while dismissing the humble. This prideful indignation may result in violence, expressed through harsh words or harmful deeds. Such attitudes separate us from God, who engages with us in the everyday moments of life.

Lent calls us to rediscover the beauty of simplicity. God reveals Himself in the hidden, gentle ways that invite us to humility. Let us ask for the grace to recognise His presence in the simple things — in the silence of prayer, the kindness of others, and the quiet work of His Spirit within us.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who lived in the simplicity of Nazareth, guide us to trust in God’s gentle ways. Let us reject the pride that leads to indignation and violence and instead walk the path of humility and peace.

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