Daily Readings - Sun Oct 12 2025
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 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.