A grateful stranger
Isn’t it a pity that we believers, are at times, even often, put to shame by people who are not Christians, or separated or non-practicing? Not that we are in competition with them or have to think that we are better than they, but we owe it to Christ, to the Church, to the kingdom for which we work, to live our faith in practice, to do deeds of faith. We see “outsiders” do these deeds even as we fail to do them. Let us recognize the good deeds done by others and learn from them, as Jesus points out to us today.
Naaman, a foreigner, had come to beg the prophet Elisha to cure him of his leprosy in the name of the God of Israel. When he was healed, he gratefully promised to honor the God of Israel.
Jesus cured ten men, simply because they believed in him. But only one returned to thank him. He was a foreigner, and a Samaritan at that.
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.
He then went back to the Holy Man, he and his entourage, stood before him, and said, “I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no God anywhere on earth other than the God of Israel. In gratitude let me give you a gift.”
“As God lives,” Elisha replied, “the God whom I serve, I’ll take nothing from you.” Naaman tried his best to get him to take something, but he wouldn’t do it.
“If you won’t take anything,” said Naaman, “let me ask you for something: Give me a load of dirt, as much as a team of donkeys can carry, because I’m never again going to worship any god other than God.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It’s what you’ve heard from me all along. It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now—but God’s Word isn’t in jail! That’s why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:
If we die with him, we’ll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there’s no way he can be false to himself.
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”
Prayer
God our Father,
we are your graceful work of art.
When we were doomed to death through sin
you called us to life
through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Open us to your love and life
given for free as a gift without charge or regret.
Give us thankful hearts.
May we learn from you and your Son
to give ourselves away for free
to our brothers and sisters.
Accept our thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Video available at: bibleclaret.org
