Daily Readings - Sun Oct 13 2019
2 Kings
14So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.15Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."16But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.17Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules' load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.
2 Timothy
8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;13if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.
Luke
11On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance13and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."14When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;16and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.17Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"19And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful stories of healing, conversion, and gratitude. The first reading from 2 Kings tells the story of Naaman, a Syrian general, who, despite his wealth and power, is afflicted with leprosy. Through the humility of a young Israelite girl and the obedience of Naaman to the prophet Elisha’s instructions, Naaman is healed in the Jordan River. This healing is not just physical but also spiritual, as Naaman comes to recognize the one true God of Israel. The second reading from 2 Timothy reminds us that our faith is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and though we may face suffering, we endure for the sake of the Gospel and the salvation it brings. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one—a Samaritan—returns to give thanks, teaching us that gratitude is an essential response to God’s grace.
These readings are connected by the theme of faith and its consequences. Naaman’s healing leads to his conversion, while the lepers’ healing in the Gospel highlights the importance of gratitude. The second reading ties these together by reminding us that our faith is not just about receiving blessings but also about remaining faithful and enduring trials for the sake of the Gospel. All three readings call us to reflect on how we respond to God’s grace in our lives.
In our daily lives, we are often like the lepers in the Gospel—receiving blessings and healings, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Yet, how often do we stop to thank God? The Samaritan’s example challenges us to cultivate gratitude, not just for the big things but for the small, everyday mercies. Like Naaman, we are called to humility and trust in God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make immediate sense. And like St. Paul in 2 Timothy, we are reminded that our faith is worth suffering for, because it leads to eternal life. Let us strive to live with gratitude, humility, and perseverance, knowing that God’s grace is always at work in our lives.