Sunday, October 9, 2022
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: 2 KINGS 5:14-17
Responsorial Psalm: PSALMS 98:1-4
Second Reading: 2 TIMOTHY 2:8-13
Gospel: LUKE 17:11-19
Naaman’s profession of faith in the first reading is the climax of the episode, the true miracle. Throughout the history of Israel, idolatry is denounced time and time again. Naaman becomes an example that Israel should imitate. He takes away two mule-loads of earth. This is explained by the prevalent idea that gods are territorial, that a god could only be worshipped in the land where he manifested himself. Naaman, a foreigner declares he will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except the Lord.
Naaman the Syrian’s coming to faith and the responsorial Psalm anticipate the day when all nations will come to see saving power of God. The Psalm is an invitation to sing a song of thanksgiving to the Lord for He has done wonders – the revelation of His salvation to the nations. Naaman’s act of thanksgiving anticipates our Gospel today where Jesus cures ten lepers and only one, a foreigner returns to thank Him. The setting of this episode explains how a Samaritan could be in the company of Jews. There was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans, however, shared pain, in the case of these lepers overcame racial antipathy. To prevent the spread of leprosy, the law of Moses laid down that lepers must make it known that they are suffering from this disease and live apart from other people (Leviticus 13: 45-46). This is why they did not dare to come right up to Jesus and His disciples but instead begged His help by shouting from a distance. Jesus orders them to go show themselves to the priests. Priests certify the cure of lepers and perform some laid down rites before they are reintegrated into the community (Leviticus 14: 2ff). The lepers’ obedience is a sign of their faith in Jesus. And in fact, soon after setting out, they were cleansed. However, only one of them returns praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and spoke his praise.
How often does it happen in the Church that we are all touched by Jesus, healed by Jesus and receive countless blessings, but it takes a foreigner, someone from outside the Church to really be thankful and praise Jesus in full voice? Jesus has good reason to complain of our impudence in daring to think that we have in some way merited the gifts God gives us. Inside the Church, we are always “mature.” We consider that the contemplatives are the ‘spiritually mature’ so we try to be mature by being reverent and quiet. When some fellows come along with loud praise and charismatic exuberance, we think of them as immature or mere beginners. What has really happened is that we have taken Jesus for granted and grown spiritually proud before we have ever really known Him. we are more concerned about looking mature to others around us.
Jesus stands in stark opposition to this common plague of quasi-religious pride. He is appalled that no Jew comes back to Him in a loud and exuberant thanksgiving and praise. We don’t often come back to Jesus with such thanks. Never would anyone raise their voice loudly, perhaps to avoid disturbing the next person. Never would anyone use spontaneous gestures of praise that are not ritualized in the liturgy. Yet, we must be willing to express such human spontaneity if we are to have a living relationship with Christ and not be limited by the rubrics and rituals we call religion.
When was the last time Jesus said to someone, “Your faith has saved you?” That was in the house of Simon the Pharisee. A sinful woman came along, washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with ointment (Luke 7: 50). Jesus said the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”(Luke 7: 50). One sure way to break through the sins, negativity and lukewarmness in our life and stir up the gifts of the Spirit is to intentionally thank God in all things; good and bad ‘for all things work together for the good of those who believe.’ This is the kind of praise that cut through racial, cultural, and even religious barriers with the Samaritan and prompted Jesus to say, “stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” The Samaritan is approved and justified while the others were not.
Reflect today on your attitude towards thanksgiving. Do you have the attitude of positive thankfulness in all places and with all people, or do you experience the negativity of spiritual pride that restrains you from openly showing thanks to Jesus? Or are you afraid of upsetting the parish community? We must learn from this foreigner who openly showed his thanks to Jesus with a loud voice and unrestrained gestures and so come to know real salvation.
Happy Sunday,
Rev. Fr. Chidi Onwuka M,Ss.Cc