Daily Readings - Sun Oct 13 2019
2 Kings
14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.15And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.16But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.17And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
2 Timothy
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Luke
11And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
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.