Both the first reading and the gospel today involve lepers as the star characters. Today’s homily highlights three lessons that we might learn from the figures.

First, humility. It’s takes great humility for the lepers to come out of their hiding and protected places to seek healing. They know they are sick and are humble enough to get admit they need help.

Second, identity. When you read the Scripture, who do you normally identify with? It seems most people like stories of Jesus comforting people, but why does no one ever identify themselves with the Jewish leaders to whom Jesus has some pretty harsh words at times? It’s the foreigners in today’s readings who come out on top not the leaders. Be careful whom you identify with in the Scripture.

Finally, consistency. Neither Naaman nor lepers in the gospel were cured in an extravagant way, just the simple washing in the river or in the command to go to the priests. Sometimes we might want God to heal us or make us holy in some grand display of power, but normally he works slowly, through our consistent willingness to do little things. This is the “Little Way” of St. Therese and the surest path to holiness.

Humility, identity, and consistency. Three important lessons from the lepers in today’s reading.