Daily Readings - Sun Oct 13 2019
2 Kings
14So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant."16The prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.17"If you will not," said Naaman, "please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.
2 Timothy
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;13if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Luke
11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; 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.