1.     In our first reading of today’s liturgy, we met Naaman, a Syrian who heard about the prophet Elisha and came to him for healing. He is asked to go and wash himself in the stream 7 times. He felt bad that he was not received by the prophet; for while he was still on his way, he got the instruction from a Messager to go to wash himself in the river Jordan 7 times. He had Leprosy. He worshipped a foreign god Rimmon; he did not know Yahweh, the God of Israel. He was cured of his Leprosy, and he then believed in Yahweh, the God of the Israelites. Two things he gained – his cure and his faith in Yahweh.

 

2.     In the second reading, Paul wrote to Timothy from prison. He had already finished his first court case, and nobody had the courage to stand up and testify in his favor. Many of his friends had abandoned him and some even testified against him. The Pagans, the Gentiles, held him as a criminal while the Jews looked at him as a traitor. Paul had his consolation only on the suffering of Christ and in the example, Christ already gave us. He was misunderstood and He suffered before entering His glory. Yes, to reach salvation, one must follow this same way. “If we have died with him, then we shall live with him. If we persevere, then we shall reign with him.” Preachers, clerics, and animators of the communities are often criticized and condemned by the very people they are out to serve or are serving. As leaders or animators of the people, avoid expecting thanks and praise. Instead, look forward to criticisms, rejection, misunderstanding and why not crucifixion. But be assured that the God you serve has not abandoned you; your salvation is guaranteed.

3.     In the gospel passage, we met 10 lepers who called at a distance pleading that Jesus may show mercy and compassion to them. Jesus did far more than their demands or expectation, He cured them as they moved to the priests to show themselves. Only one of the 10, the Samaritan, the Pagan, came back to say thank you. Gratitude is not cheap. Never expect it from weak people. It is offered for the most part by people who recognize their insufficiency, their dependence or reliance on the favor received. It is not offered by people who claim entitlement and see every favor as a right. And in life, most people are weak and ungrateful.

Those suffering from Leprosy were secluded from the Community. They lived in isolation and when they must move, they must hold and ring the bell and shout ‘unclean, unclean, unclean...’ if they were to see anybody approaching them. This tells us the miserable state Lepers were in.

 

4.     The number 10 stands for totality of people, it stands for humankind. The 10 Lepers stand for the whole of humanity. Leprosy represents a state of sin, the state of human misery, of separation from God and from our brothers and sisters. Luke is telling us that we all need to meet Jesus for a cure. None of us is beyond sin, thus none is exempt from Leprosy, we are all seeking the Salvation of the Lord. This Leprosy puts together the Jews and the Samaritans, these are people when in good health are great enemies. Misfortune and pain have brought them together and have made them friends.

When we feel just and upright, we begin to raise barriers; we place the good people on our side, identify with them and put those we consider impure, sinners on the other side and condemn them. When we realize that we are sinners, we do not feel bigger or better than anybody else. We stop passing judgement, neither do we condemn nor push them away from us. We are all brothers and sisters, thus the need to support and encourage one another towards the One who can cure us all.

 

5.     One thing we must take note of is that the Lepers prayed as a community: ‘Master, Jesus, take pity on us.’ Jesus taught us to say, ‘Our Father’ and not ‘My Father.’ This teaches us that God wants to save us a community of believers and not as rugged individuals. We must identify with one another and live as a community. The 10 Lepers are cured ‘as they were going away.’ our Christian life is a journey, indeed, a long and at times a very tiring journey. Our Spiritual recovery, our conversion, is not brought about in a moment; it takes a long time. We cannot pretend that those who have lived as Lepers among us will change overnight nor deceive ourselves when we and others in complicated situations may change overnight. It is a gradual process, but we must be on it, counting on God’s compassion, mercy and collaborating with his grace.

 

6.     Only one of them returned to say thank you. Yes, Jesus had a right to be thanked by them but unfortunately only one returned to say thank you. All that God or Jesus desires in return is a heart shaped by saving gratitude for freely received grace to meet up with challenges life offers. When we do good things to others, we have a right to receive thanks from them. When others expressed gratitude to us, we commonly and beautifully say: ‘it is my pleasure’; ‘it is my joy’; ‘I am happy’, ‘of course’, ‘no problem,’ ‘I like it’ etc. Lack of gratitude is a sign of our missing the mark as God’s people as did the 9 Lepers, who were all the Israelites, from among the Chosen People of God but would not express appreciation to God. Do not be unappreciative. Learn to say thank you. Always give thanks, where thanks are due. We met this grateful attitude also in the first reading, Naaman acknowledged what the prophet had done to him and came to his presence to thank him. That was exceptionally good of him, but you would have noticed that the prophet refused the thanks. This was because he (prophet) never wanted to give the impression to Naaman that he was the one who cured him. God cured him and such thanks be given to God not to him. We are nothing without God and others; we must be grateful to God and to people who treat us right or render us a favor. A life worth living is a life lived in thankfulness because all that we are and have are all gifts from God (or from others). May God grant us the spirit of gratefulness. 

To God be the glory, honor and praise forever. Amen.

Fr. Anthony D. Lawir SD, (Pastor).