Daily Readings - Sun Oct 12 2025

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

Chapter 2

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

Chapter 17

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 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.