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 Reverence for  old  age  and  for  the  servants  of  God.  The  sin  committed by  the  boys  of  Bethel  was  great,  because  the  person  they  mocked was both  an  old  man  and  a prophet. They proved  themselves  to  be bad,  vicious  children,  full  of  hatred  of  God  and  His  servants. Their severe punishment  was  sent,  firstly,  to  prevent  their  reaching  a mature stage of  wickedness;  secondly,  to  teach  the  inhabitants  of  Bethel  to fear  God  and  honour  His  prophets; and  thirdly,  to  serve  as  a warning for all  time  that  old  age  is  to  be  honoured,  and  all  those  sent  by  God are to  be  revered. “Rise up  before  the  hoary  head,  and  honour  the person of  the  aged  man”  (Lev.  19,  32). Our Lord  said,  referring  to the  apostles  and  their  successors:  “He  that  heareth  you,  heareth  Me: and he  that  despiseth  you,  despiseth  Me:  and  he  that  despiseth  Me, despiseth Him  that  sent  Me”  (Luke  10,  16).

Humility. Naaman’s  story  shows  us  that  only  the  humble  can  find favour with  God. The narrative  of  the  little  maid  had  inspired  the Syrian general  with  a great  confidence  in  the  power  of  God  and  the prayers of  Eliseus. But when  he  arrived,  and  the  prophet  did  not  come out to  meet  him,  to  touch  him  and  pray  over  him,  and  still  more  when he was  told  to  bathe  in  the  Jordan,  his  pride  was  aroused. He said to himself:  “What,  am  I not  even  good  enough  for  the  prophet  to speak  to? What good  can  the  water  of  the  Jordan  do  me?”  It  was only when  his  servants  reasoned  with  him,  that  he  overcame  his  pride and humbly  obeyed  the  directions  of  the  man  of  God. Had he  not become humble  and  obedient,  he  would  not  have  been  healed  either in body  or  soul.

Consider the  gratitude  of  Naaman.

Disinterestedness of  Eliseus.  As  he  did  not  care  for  his  own  interests, but only  for  the  glory  of  God,  Eliseus  found  his  full  reward  in  the conversion of  the  pagan  Syrian,  and  thanked  God  for  it.

Covetousness. Giezi,  like  Judas  Iscariot,  was  a covetous  man,  though he had  constantly  before  him  the  example  of  his  poverty-loving  master. In order  to  enrich  himself  he  lied  first  to  the  Syrian  and  then  to  Eliseus, exposing the  latter  to  a charge  of  avarice  and  perjury,  for  the  prophet had said  to  Naaman:  “As  the  Lord  liveth  I will  take  nothing.”  This story shows  us  that  covetousness  is  a capital  sin,  leading  to  many  other sins, especially  to  lies  and  deceit.

Ill-gotten gains  profit  nothing. The  rich  presents  received  by  Giezi from Naaman  were  ill-gotten,  for  he  told  lies  to  obtain  them. These ill-gotten goods  brought  him  no  blessing. Covered with  an  incurable leprosy, he  could  enjoy  neither  riches  nor  life. He must  very  often have cursed  his  avarice  and  deceit,  for  health  is  of  more  value  than gold. Many a rich  invalid  would  give  all  he  possesses,  could  he  thereby regain his  health!

Justification of  the  sinner. Naaman’s  wonderful  cure  from  leprosy is, according  to  the  Fathers  of  the  Church,  a type  of  the  sinner’s