2 Kings 5:1-15 / Luke 4:24-30
There is something common about these following categories of people - foreigners, outsiders, poor, lowly, powerless.
The common denominator is that they are usually at a disadvantage, especially the latter few.
And on top of that, having an illness or disease is going to be a double blow especially if one is already poor.
In the 1st reading, the powerful (and rich) army commander Naaman who was inflicted with the dreaded leprosy had to learn the lesson of humility.
All the money and power cannot heal him but just an act of humility in obedience to the prophet Elisha healed him physically and spiritually.
But in the gospel, it was not the foreigner or outsider that was at the disadvantage.
Rather it was the Chosen people who were infuriated when Jesus told them that foreigners and outsiders were blessed by God over and above their own people.
Indeed, the prophet and his prophetic words are not accepted in his own country and among his own people.
So if we hear of something that does not find favour with us or that we get angry and agitated over, we need to see the truth of those words.
We need the humility to hear the prophetic voice and to accept the prophetic words.