March 4th, 2004, Monday of the third week of Lent.

A reading from the second book of kings.

Nehaman, the army commander of the king of Aram, was highly esteemed and respected by his master,

for through him the Lord had brought victory to Aram.

But valiant as he was, the man was a leper.

Now the Arameans had captured in a raid on the land of Israel a little girl,

who became the servant of Naaman's wife.

If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria, she said to her mistress.

He would cure him of his leprosy.

Nehaman went and told his lord just what the slave girl from the land of Israel had said.

Go, said the king of Aram. I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.

So Nehaman set out, taking along ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments. To the King of Israel,

he brought the letter which read, With this letter I am sending my servant Neiman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.

When he read the letter, the King of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed,

Am I a God with power over life and death, that this man should send someone to me to be cured of leprosy?

Take note, you can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me. When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the King of Israel had torn his garments,

he sent word to the King. Why have you torn your garments?

Let him come to me and find out that there is a prophet in Israel.

Nehaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.

The prophet sent him the message, Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal and you will be clean.

But Nehaman went away angry, saying,

I thought that he would surely come out and stand there to invoke the Lord his God,

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