28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading 2 Kings 5:14-17: : Naaman returned to Elisha and acknowledged the Lord. The leper is cured of his sickness and turns to believe in the God of Israel.

II Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13: If we hold firm, then we shall reign with Christ. St. Paul writing from the captivity of prison, encourages us to  remain firm and steadfast in our faith.

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19: No one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner (a Samaritan and an outsider, returns to thank Jesus for the gift of healing).

This passage teaches two powerful lessons, one on how to have needs met and on the other on gratitude.

1. Jesus went toward Jerusalem (v.11)

2. The lesson on need: Ten lepers were healed (v.12-14)

a. There was desperation

b. There was humility

c. There was cry for mercy

d. There was perseverance

e. There was believing being tested, obeying

3. The lesson on gratitude (v.15-19)

a. All were blessed

b. One gave thanks

          1) Praised God

          2) Worshipped Jesus

          3) Was a Samaritan, outsider

c. Most did not thank God

d. The one who was the most rejected was the most thankful

e. The thankful one shall be assured of salvation

Thought: Every person (desperate person) must recognize his/her uncleanness in approaching Jesus. He must come in humility confessing unworthiness to approach One so holy and confessing need for the cleansing touch of the Holy One of God, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

What have we come to Church for today? We would receive a varieties of answers…the Christians ought to be thanks-givers at all times, both individually and as a community; this is the best way for them to mature in Christian life. Gratefulness towards God helps us mature in our Christian life.

We should be grateful to God for his material gifts, spiritual gifts; in a particular way, for his mercy in cleansing us of sin, and for our trials, temptations, and sufferings. Our Sunday worship should have thanksgiving as its main purpose as Paul invited his Christians of Ephesus to do (5:20).

            

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