Mark Twain pointed out that truth is stranger than fiction. It really is! There is a true but strange story that comes to us straight from the Old Testament, which has an important lesson for us, in spite of the horrible circumstances.

Shortly after King Solomon died there was a jockeying for the leadership of the Israelites. To brothers fought for political control and ended up dividing the Kingdom into two, Israel and Judah. When these two were not quarrelling among themselves, they were usually being attacked by one of the local kings.

On one of these occasions, Judah was under attack by the King of Aram and the siege went on for a very long time. All of its food reserves were used up, so there was a terrible famine. Four starving lepers were sitting at a gate, suffering from the siege and famine. As they talked on said, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we stay in the city, we die. If we continue to sit here, we die. Let us go to the camp of our enemy, the Arameans. They may spare our lives, and if they kill us, we shall die.” So they went to the Aramean camp, very early in the morning.

Through a miracle of God they found the camp deserted. It found only that it contained all of the equipment and foodstuff left be the retreating army. The four lepers had a field day eating and drinking. They also collected silver and gold, which they hid nearby. Later, one of the lepers came to his senses and said, “We are not doing right, this is a day of Good News, but we are keeping silent! Come let us go tell those suffering the famine.” And they went, and they shared.

This story can be used as a metaphor b y us, Sir Knights, for sharing the Good News of Christ. People – a lot of people – are living in pretty miserable conditions physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Like the four lepers we have discovered the Good News. God has blessed us with both the means and the message, to help others.

Like the lepers we must not remain silent and inactive, to do so would not be “doing right.” So my brother Sir Knights let us dedicate this new fraternal year, to “doing right!” In our Assembly, Nation and World.

Vivat Jesus!
J. R. Savoie, PGK, FN
7/16/2008

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