Reading 1 2 Kgs 5:14-17
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.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands:
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Reading 2 2 Tm 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.
Alleluia 1 Thess 5:18
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
THE 90% CONGREGATION
"Where are the other nine?" –Luke 17:17
The Samaritan leper ignores Jesus' command to go show himself to the priest. He follows his heart and not Jesus' order. In so doing, he commits an act of "religious disobedience." Presumably, when told to go his way by Jesus (Lk 17:19), he does follow Jesus' command and shows himself to the priests. This was the prescription given for healed lepers in the law of Moses (Lv 13:9-13). Jesus approves of a grateful heart, telling the healed man that his faith, expressed by praise and thanksgiving (Lk 17:15, 18), has been his salvation (Lk 17:19).
Jesus also asks the whereabouts of the other nine men (Lk 17:17). Could He be asking the same question of the congregation in our Mass today? Are most people in your congregation simply fulfilling their Sunday obligation to obey the Church? Are ninety-percent of the people in your parish attending Mass on "auto-pilot" to mechanically "pray, pay, and obey"? Jesus works many healings through reception of the Eucharist, so attending Mass is always a worthy act, even if done mechanically.
The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving." Therefore, praise, glorify, and thank the Lord today. "Dedicate yourselves to thankfulness" (Col 3:15). Continue to obey the Lord and His Church, but do so with gladness (Ps 100:2), praise (Ps 98:4), and thanksgiving (Col 3:17). Prostrate yourself before the Lord and thank Him.
| PRAYER: | Father, let there be an epidemic of praise and thanksgiving in Your Church, "and let it begin with me." |
| PROMISE: | "There is no chaining the word of God!" –2 Tm 2:9 |
| PRAISE: | Risen Jesus, I fall on my face at Your feet and speak Your praises. All praise, honor, thanksgiving, and glory be to You! |
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