Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
Responsorial: Psalm 98:1-4
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101319.cfm
In today’s readings, we hear the message that we need to be thankful. In the first reading, the army commander of the King of Aram suffered from leprosy. But he returned to thank the Prophet Elisha for his healing through Yahweh and to pledge his allegiance to the God of Israel. In the Responsorial, the Psalmist urges us to, “Sing joyfully to the Lord…Break into song; sing praise!” St. Paul advises Timothy in the second reading to be grateful to God even in his physical suffering and despite the dangers of spreading the Word of God. And in today’s Gospel, one of the 10 lepers returned to thank Jesus.
So, having a spirit of thankfulness is a central theme of the readings today. But notice something very interesting. In both the first reading and the Gospel, it is the foreigner – the outsider – the one who lives on the margins – who returns to give thanks. In the first reading from 2 Kings 5:14-17, the pagan and foreigner Naaman is healed by the Yahweh. He returns to thank Elisha and he takes with him two mule-loads of earth so that when he returns to Damascus, he can pray to Yahweh on the soil of Israel.
In today’s Gospel, the ten lepers cry out to Jesus for help. He tells them to present themselves to the priests. One leper realized he they had all been healed. He turned back and fell at Jesus’ feet and gave thanks to God for his healing. Jesus asks him, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you,” Luke 17:17-19.
Isn’t it interesting? The outsiders – the foreigners return to give thanks to God for their healing. I think there’s a lesson there.
I think that sometimes we can become so comfortable in our lives that we take things for granted – be it our relationships, our work, and even our faith. We lose our sense of wonder at the beauty around us. In other words, we take things for granted. I know there have been times in my life when I put my faith life on autopilot. I just went through the motions without any thought for what I was doing or why. Perhaps we can call this a spiritual leprosy. Of course, spiritual leprosy could also be caused by our own sinful, selfish, proud choices.
During these times in our lives, how did you handle it? Did you turn in to yourself and live with fear, guilt or despair? Did you try to self-soothe during these times in your life, like abusing alcohol, drugs, pornography, sex?
How do we get back on course? You would think that we who are baptized and catechized wouldn’t need any help finding our way. Once we realized we’d made a mistake, we’d snap out of it and get back on track. But unfortunately, it’s not that easy, is it? But God does not abandon us. As we’ve heard in the many parables over these last several weeks, God seeks us like the shepherd in search of the lost sheep or the father who runs through the fields to embrace the prodigal son.
No matter how far we might wander off the path because of our leprosy, the God who loves us unconditionally can speak to us in some of the most interesting ways. For example, a chance encounter with someone – a stranger – on the train or in a coffee shop can be the setting for an encounter with Jesus Christ. Perhaps something the stranger says or does something that triggers an awareness in us. By the stranger’s example, we might realize what we’re doing to ourselves and turn back to God.
Isn’t it ironic that so many of us are indifferent to or even hostile to the stranger – the outsider – the foreigner? But like in today’s readings, the example of thankfulness can come from outside our circle of family and friends. The question is, are we open to those experiences?
Jesus Christ left us this amazing church which offers us so many opportunities to experience the same healing that Naaman and the Samaritan experienced. We experienced this cleansing in the waters of Baptism. We experience this cleansing and healing again and again in the Sacrament of Penance. We can experience this cleansing and healing in the Eucharist. Like Naaman and the Samaritan, we have the opportunity to thank God each and every time we go to Mass. We offer ourselves in sacrifice—falling on our knees before our Lord, giving thanks for our salvation. In this Eucharist, we remember the merciful and healing power of Jesus Christ. And we pray, as Paul in Second Timothy, to persevere in this faith.
Homework! After being nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions:
- I would like you to write out ten things you are thankful for in your life.
- I encourage you to use the opportunity of going to mass to give thanks to God for your salvation, and for all the many blessings in your life, like those on your list.
I think by doing our homework we will develop a better and more consistent sense of thankfulness that we should all have as disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!