A couple of days ago the readings of the Mass spoke of the only widow who was helped in Israel; then the only leper who was healed on the Jewish soil, and that too him being a Syrian, a non-Jew. The Gospel of the same day speaks of Mary as the chosen one to be the mother of the Messiah.
What was special about the widow of Zarephath who was helped by Elijah? What earned her a miraculous supply of food till the next harvest? Her generosity towards a stranger. In spite of being hungry and well aware that sharing the only morsel of food she had, would result in the early starvation of her son and herself, she chose to offer the last morsel of food to a total stranger. She sacrificed. She shared. That too for a stranger.
What was different about Naaman, the leper, that resulted in him being the only person to be healed by the Jewish prophet? He was open to the advice of everyone. He listened. He listened to the advice of a slave girl who recommended that she visit the Jewish prophet to get rid of his leprosy. He listened to his servants when in a rage he wanted to return from the doorstep of the prophet's house. In spite of him being the army commander, he was open to kind words of others.
Most importantly, even his servants felt comfortable to share with him their views. They did not feel frightened or scared of him. They respected him and hence wished him good. This would have been possible only because he was genuinely good to them!
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