Daily Readings - Sun Oct 12 2025

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

Chapter 2

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

Chapter 17

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 are reminded of the profound impact of faith and gratitude in our spiritual journey. Naaman, a Syrian general, experiences healing from leprosy through his obedience to Elisha, leading him to recognize the one true God. This transformation is not just physical but also spiritual, as he commits to worshiping only the Lord. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers, yet only one, a Samaritan, returns to express his gratitude. This Samaritan's actions highlight the importance of thanksgiving and faith in our relationship with God. The context of these stories further enriches their meaning. Naaman's healing occurs amidst the division between Israel and Syria, yet he transcends this divide to acknowledge the power of the God of Israel. The lepers in the Gospel, including a Samaritan, show that Jesus' healing grace extends to all, regardless of background. Paul's letter, written during his imprisonment, emphasizes his unwavering commitment to the Gospel despite suffering, illustrating that faith can thrive even in adversity. Applying these lessons to our daily lives, we are called to embrace gratitude for God's blessings and to remain faithful through life's challenges. Like Naaman and the Samaritan leper, we should acknowledge God's work in our lives and express our thanks. Our faith is not just about receiving blessings but also about staying steadfast and giving glory to God in all we do. Let us strive to live with gratitude and faith, recognizing that our relationship with God is one of mutual love and trust.