Daily Readings - Sun Oct 09 2022

¹⁴So he descended and washed in the Jordan seven times, in accord with the word of the man of God. And his flesh was restored, like the flesh of a little child. And he was made clean¹⁵And returning to the man of God, with his entire retinue, he arrived, and stood before him, and he said: "Truly, I know there is no other God, in all the earth, except in Israel. And so I beg you to accept a blessing from your servant.¹⁶But he responded, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it." And though he urged him strongly, he did not agree at all¹⁷And Naaman said: "As you wish. But I beg you to grant to me, your servant, that I may take from here the burden of two mules from the ground. For your servant will no longer offer holocaust or victim to other gods, except to the Lord

2 Timothy

Chapter 2

⁸Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the offspring of David, has risen again from the dead, according to my Gospel⁹I labor in this Gospel, even while chained like an evildoer. But the Word of God is not bound¹⁰I endure all things for this reason: for the sake of the elect, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory¹¹It is a faithful saying: that if we have died with him, we will also live with him¹²If we suffer, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us¹³If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful: he is not able to deny himself

Luke

Chapter 17

¹¹And it happened that, while he was traveling to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee¹²And as he was entering a certain town, ten leprous men met him, and they stood at a distance¹³And they lifted up their voice, saying, "Jesus, Teacher, take pity on us.¹⁴And when he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And it happened that, as they were going, they were cleansed¹⁵And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, returned, magnifying God with a loud voice¹⁶And he fell face down before his feet, giving thanks. And this one was a Samaritan¹⁷And in response, Jesus said: "Were not ten made clean? And so where are the nine¹⁸Was no one found who would return and give glory to God, except this foreigner?¹⁹And he said to him: "Rise up, go forth. For your faith has saved you.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, gratitude, and the transformative power of God's grace. The first reading from 2 Kings tells the story of Naaman, a Syrian general, who, despite his initial doubts, humbles himself and follows the prophet Elisha's instructions to bathe in the Jordan River. This act of faith leads to his healing from leprosy. Naaman's subsequent refusal to offer sacrifices to other gods and his request for soil from Israel signify his conversion and deepening faith in the one true God. The second reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes the enduring power of the Gospel and the importance of faithfulness. St. Paul, despite being imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, remains steadfast in his commitment to Christ. He reminds us that our union with Christ brings both the promise of eternal life and the call to share in His sufferings. Paul's words encourage us to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity, knowing that God's fidelity endures. In the Gospel, Luke presents the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus. While all ten are cured, only the Samaritan returns to express gratitude. Jesus' response highlights the importance of recognizing and thanking God for His blessings. This foreigner, often considered an outsider, demonstrates a deeper understanding of God's mercy and grace. These readings remind us that faith and gratitude are inseparable. Naaman's healing required humility and trust in God's providence, while the Samaritan's gratitude reflects a heart transformed by God's mercy. In our daily lives, we are called to approach God with humility, to trust in His plan, and to cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving. May we, like Naaman and the Samaritan, allow God's grace to transform us and may our lives be marked by faith, gratitude, and a deep love for Him.