Indigenous Peoples’ Sunday

First reading: 2 Kgs. 5:14–17

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.”

Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;” and despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused. Naaman said: “If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD.”

Second reading: 2 Tim. 2:8–13

Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.

But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.

This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Gospel: Lk. 17:11–19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

In other words

by Fr. Bernard Espiritu, SVD (New Zealand)

Sickness is one moment when we realize that life is beyond our complete control. It is an episode where we acknowledge our need for a helping hand.

This is the reality we find in the life of Naaman the Syrian, the decorated army officer who has won victories but found himself a leper. His name means “pleasantness” but leprosy made his life unpleasant. Naaman however listened to the guidance of the prophet Elisha and the persuasion of a young believer, a captive slave from Naaman’s battles in Israel. Both helped in making his life wholesome and pleasant again. His healing restored not only his respect for people but also the declaration of his faith in God. “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” He offered a gift of thanksgiving to the prophet who outrightly refused it. 

But Naaman’s sincere faith in turn requested permission to take two mule-loads of earth with him back to Syria—a gesture that his healing brings about his faithfulness to the God who heals and gives life. Every time Naaman prays to God in Syria, he will stand on the holy grounds he brought from Israel, metaphorically and for real. This is gratitude. Gratitude comes from the heart. It takes a lifetime to be grateful, and a lifetime is worth remembering to be thankful.

Gratitude is also the storyline in today’s Gospel. And there are other similarities between the characters of the stories. Both Naaman and the Samaritan leper were not Jews; neither belonged to what was known as the chosen people of God. But both were beneficiaries of the mercies of God. Such a gift increased and sealed their faith. But the last word belongs to Jesus, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

The proof of healing is when one can stand up knowing that wholeness is a gift and shedding off any pain of the past allows one to go forward in life. The Word of God proclaimed and received clarifies how one can journey in life. But the Catholic Mass completes the celebration by participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and reception of the Eucharistic Meal, Jesus’ real presence here and now. Gratitude is best expressed when one openly receives and lives them both.

This is why every Holy Mass ends with the command, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”