He Fell at Jesus' Feet Giving Thanks
Introduction: May
you continue to deepen your prayer life and relationship with GOD as you spend
time in reflection.
Relationship!
That is a very important word. It includes being in connection with another in
various ways. The more ways we can communicate with another, the deeper our
relationship can be. This is especially true of our relationship with GOD.
Another word for “relationship with GOD” is prayer. Anything and everything we
do in order to deepen our relationship with GOD is prayer. It means that as we
learn more about the Triune GOD and acknowledge Who the Lord Jesus is, we are
in prayer. As we examine our own lives and realize that we have been out of
relationship through our sinful acts and thoughts, we are in prayer. As we
express our gratitude for all that GOD has done for us, is doing, and will
continue to do, especially in the incarnation, life, teaching, ministry, death
and resurrection of Jesus, we are praying. Praying is not just asking GOD for
what we want. Prayer is the ongoing and, hopefully, ever-deepening of our
relationship with GOD.
GOD is
gracious in touching people’s lives. The response to such graciousness should
be prayerful worship and thanksgiving. In the First Reading, an Aramean army
commander seeks healing from the GOD of Israel. After being granted his
request, he desires to praise the GOD Who provided the healing. The
Responsorial Psalm is a reminder that GOD reveals the divine, saving power to
all peoples who in return should sing joyful songs to the gracious GOD. In the
Second Reading, St. Paul writes Timothy reminding him of what Paul continues to
go through in order that people may come to know the GOD Who is faithful to the
promise of offering salvation to all peoples. In the Gospel, the graciousness
of GOD, personified in Jesus, touches the lives of ten lepers, yet only one (a
Samaritan) returns to offer thanks to Him
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17: Naaman returned to the
man of God and confessed his faith in the Lord.
Commentary: This
little excerpt is the stub-end of one of the most delightful stories in the
Bible (read it!). In his opening proclamation in the synagogue at Nazareth
Jesus declares that he has come to save the gentiles too, just as Elisha did,
citing Naaman as an example. Today we read just the cure itself. The odd bit
about ‘two mule-loads of earth’ is the result of the belief, still persistent
at that time, that the God of Israel could be worshipped only on the soil of
Israel – so take some soil with you! Naaman wants to express his gratitude
at home too. At that time the LORD was accepted as God of Israel, the Sovereign
and Protector of Israel, but this implied nothing about other nations. It was
not until the Babylonian exile, when Israel was confronted the multiple gods of
Babylon that Israel advanced a step and saw that the LORD was the God of the
whole earth, the whole universe, and that all the other deities, such as sun
and moon and stars, were simply timing-devices plugged into the vault of heaven
by the LORD himself. God reveals himself to Israel, and to us, gradually.
Responsorial Psalm 98:1.
2-3b. 3c-4. The LORD has shown his salvation to the nations.
The Responsorial Psalm proclaims the Good news that GOD
continues to touch all people with divine, saving power. GOD’s gift of salus
(healing, wholeness, salvation) is given to any who seek it. In response to the
salus that is given, joyful praise and thanksgiving is to be lifted up to GOD.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13: ‘If we endure, we will
also reign with Christ.’
Commentary: If
Paul is chained as a criminal, at least he gives the grounds for his hope and
his security: ‘the saying is sure’. The kernel of the Good News is the
Resurrection, and that is enough. If Christ is risen from the dead, no more is
required; this in itself is the fulfilment of the promises to David. Paul then
quotes a little symmetrical hymn which was no doubt sung by the early Christian
congregations. The earliest external evidence to the Christian liturgy is a
letter from Pliny, governor of a province in what is now northern Turkey, in
the early second century, only a few decades after Second Timothy. He has
examined Christians under torture and sends his findings to the Emperor: they
meet on a set day (presumably Sunday), make oaths of loyalty to one other, sing
a hymn ‘to Christ as to a God’, and then have a meal (presumably the
Eucharist). The last lines of this reading could be part of just such a hymn,
under the pressures of persecution, celebrating the union of Christ with his
followers, and Christ’s fidelity to his own people, whatever they do to him.
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19: ‘No one was found to return and
give praise to God except this foreigner.’
Commentary: There
was a cordial hatred between Jews and Samaritans – a wretched hybrid race,
who accepted only part of the Jewish Bible, and had their own ideas about the
coming Messiah. Yet we have already had the story of the Good Samaritan, who
succours the wounded traveller, neglected by Jewish priest and Levite. Now only
a Samaritan comes back to thank Jesus for the cure from leprosy. Samaritans are
the foreigners geographically nearest to Jesus but hated by the Jews. If the
Samaritans can set an example to the Jews, so can many other foreigners. In his
initial proclamation Jesus promises salvation to the gentiles, and Luke misses
no opportunity to show us gentiles ripe for salvation, the centurion of
Capernaum who built the synagogue and whose son is cured, the guests for the
banquet, called in from highways and byways. He is preparing for the second
volume, the Acts of the Apostles, where the Good News will spread to the ends
of the earth, to Rome itself.
One of the most important moves before Vatican II was to
invite non-Catholic representatives as honoured guests to the Council. One of
the most important moves of Vatican II itself was to study how members of other
faiths could be saved, and saved by Christ, even without explicit belief in
him, and in what way we are all embraced by Christ together. The healing of the
Samaritan and his thanks set off an irreversible train of thought.
Reflection: What can adversity teach us about the blessing of
thanksgiving and the healing power of love and mercy? The Book of Proverbs
states: A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity
(Proverbs 17:17). When adversity strikes you find out who truly is your
brother, sister, and friend. The Gospel records an unusual encounter between
two peoples who had been divided for centuries. The Jews and Samaritans had no
dealings with one another even though Samaria was located in the central part
of Judea. Both peoples were openly hostile whenever their paths crossed. In
this Gospel narrative we see one rare exception - a Samaritan leper in company
with nine Jewish lepers. Sometimes adversity forces people to drop their
barriers or to forget their prejudices. When this band of Jewish and Samaritan
lepers saw Jesus they made a bold request. They didn't ask for healing, but
instead asked for mercy.
Mercy is heartfelt sorrow at
another's misfortune: The word mercy literally means "sorrowful
at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt
sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But
mercy goes further - it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in
another's misfortune and suffering as if it were his or her own. And such a
person will do everything in his or her power to dispel that misery.
Mercy is also connected with justice. Thomas Aquinas
(1225-1274), a great teacher and scripture scholar, said that mercy "does
not destroy justice, but is a certain kind of fulfillment of justice. ..Mercy
without justice is the mother of dissolution; (and) justice without mercy is
cruelty." Pardon without repentance negates justice.
God's mercy brings healing of
mind, heart, and body: So, what is the significance of these ten
lepers asking for mercy? They know they are in need of healing, not just
physical, but spiritual healing as well. They approach Jesus with contrition
and faith because they believe that he can release the burden of guilt and
suffering and make restoration of body and soul possible. Their request for
mercy is both a plea for pardon and release from suffering. Jesus gives mercy
to all who ask with faith and contrition.
Why did only one leper out of ten return to show gratitude?
Gratefulness, another word which expresses gratitude of heart and a thankful
disposition, is related to grace - which means the release of loveliness.
Gratitude is the homage of the heart which responds with graciousness in
expressing an act of thanksgiving. The Samaritan approached Jesus reverently
and gave praise to God.
Ingratitude leads to lack of
love and kindness, and intolerance towards others: If we do not
recognize and appreciate the mercy and help shown to us we will be ungrateful
and unkind towards others. Ingratitude is forgetfulness or a poor return for
kindness received. Ingratitude easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance
towards others, as well as to other vices, such as complaining, grumbling,
discontentment, pride, and presumption. How often have we been ungrateful to
our parents, pastors, teachers, and neighbors? Do you express gratitude to God
for his abundant help and mercy towards you and are you gracious, kind, and
merciful towards your neighbor in their time of need and support?
Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize your loving
kindness and mercy towards me. Fill my heart with compassion and thanksgiving,
and free me from ingratitude and discontentment. Help me to count my blessings
with a grateful heart and to give thanks in all circumstances.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: Cleansing of the
ten lepers, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"Why did [Jesus] not say, 'I will, be cleansed,' as he
did in the case of another leper (Luke 5:13), instead of commanding them to
show themselves to the priests? It was because the law gave directions to this
effect to those who were delivered from leprosy (Leviticus 14:2). It commanded
them to show themselves to the priests and to offer a sacrifice for their
cleansing. He commanded them to go as being already healed so that they might
bear witness to the priests, the rulers of the Jews and always envious of his
glory. They testified that wonderfully and beyond their hope, they had been
delivered from their misfortune by Christ's willing that they should be healed.
He did not heal them first but sent them to the priests, because the priests
knew the marks of leprosy and of its healing." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON
LUKE, HOMILIES 113-16)
“Do you want to be healed?”
(jn 5:6):
“Go and show yourselves to the priests.” —Luke 17:14. In
today’s first reading and the Gospel passage, the steps involved in the
healings of leprosy were ordinary rather than spectacular (2 Kgs 5:14; Lk
17:14). Humble obedience was required of the lepers, who were not healed until
they obeyed. These healings are similar to the seemingly ordinary healing power
of the Sacraments (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1420-1421). We must
partake of the sacraments to experience their healing effects. For example, the
Sacrament of Reconciliation doesn’t take effect until we go and show ourselves
to the priest in the Confessional (see Lk 17:14). After doing this, we are
forgiven and healed.
It may seem like the healing in a sacrament is a somewhat
impersonal transaction. Actually, the Sacraments are deeply personal. In Holy
Communion, the flesh of the Lord Jesus dwells within our flesh (Jn 6:56;
17:23). In Confession, the priest, even though he may seem detached, is sitting
in the person of Christ (Catechism, 1461, 1465). Through him, Jesus forgives
your sin very personally. The other Sacraments are also administered through
the personal touch of the Lord.
Naaman wanted a personal, spectacular healing (2 Kgs
5:11ff). But he got the results he wanted through ordinary obedience (2 Kgs
5:14). Through His Church, Jesus has poured out incredible healing power. “Do
you want to be healed” badly enough to receive it through the Sacraments Jesus
established in His Church? (Jn 5:6)
Prayer: Father, may I seek healing on Your terms. “If we
have died with Him we shall also live with Him; if we hold out to the end we
shall also reign with Him.” —2 Tm 2:11-12. Praise You, healing Jesus, risen in
splendor. Alleluia.
The personal action for
today: How does my prayer reflects
my relationship with GOD? How much time do I spend in prayer? What is the focus
of my prayer time with GOD? Do I adore the Lord for Who GOD is, the faithful
One Who continues to reveal the saving power to me? Do I acknowledge my need
for GOD’s help and salvation, not just so that I can get more from GOD, but
that I might deepen my relationship with the Lord Jesus and His Abba-Father, in
union with the Holy Spirit? How do I express my gratitude and thanksgiving to
GOD? What is my attitude about asking GOD for things? How can I more fully
share with others my relationship with GOD?
*Blessed Francis Xavier
Seelos: Zeal as a preacher and a
confessor led Father Seelos to works of compassion as well.
Born in southern Bavaria, he studied philosophy and theology
in Munich. On hearing about the work of the Redemptorists among German-speaking
Catholics in the United States, he came to this country in 1843. Ordained at
the end of 1844, he was assigned for six years to St. Philomena’s Parish in
Pittsburgh as an assistant to Saint John Neumann. The next three years Father
Seelos was superior in the same community, and began his service as novice
master.
Several years in parish ministry in Maryland followed, along
with responsibility for training Redemptorist students. During the Civil War
Fr. Seelos went to Washington, D.C., and appealed to President Lincoln that
those students not be drafted for military service, although eventually some
were.
For several years, he preached in English and in German
throughout the Midwest and in the Mid-Atlantic states. Assigned to St. Mary of
the Assumption Church community in New Orleans, Fr. Seelos served his
Redemptorist confreres and parishioners with great zeal. In 1867, he died of
yellow fever, having contracted that disease while visiting the sick. He was
beatified in 2000. The liturgical feast of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is
celebrated on October 5.
Father Seelos worked in many different places but always
with the same zeal: to help people know God’s love and compassion. He preached
about the works of mercy and then engaged in them, even risking his own health.
