Sunday Readings in Brief: 28 C

2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalms 97(98); 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19
Being Grateful

Dear friends, today is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We have only six weeks left before the end of the liturgical year C. Jesus continues to instruct us on the conduct that is fit for the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Though we can draw more than one theme from today’s readings, I would like to focus on the theme of “being grateful.”

Being grateful is a moral value present in most cultures of the world. When someone does or gives something good to another, it is expected that the latter should show gratitude. How to show gratitude may vary from one culture to another. Some may simply say “thank you” verbally, while others offer gifts to show their appreciation. In the Maasai culture, every act of kindness, however small it may be, is greeted with “Ashe” (thank you), often accompanied by a gift, mostly the famous Maasai shuka (cloth). How do you show gratitude in your culture? Do you, as individuals, show gratitude to those who do good to you?

In the first reading, we hear how Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, came back to Israel to thank the Prophet Elisha for curing him of leprosy. Naaman had brought with him gold, expensive linen, and a letter from the king seeking healing. Elisha refused even to go out to meet him. Instead, he sent his servant to tell Naaman to go and wash seven times in the Jordan. Though Naaman turned away angrily, his servant urged him to wash, and by doing so, he was healed. Elisha refused to receive the gift because God’s mercy cannot be bought. However, today, the business of buying and selling miracles by self-proclaimed prophets is booming. The image of modern-day prophets is that of wealth and pomp. Is this the true image of a prophet?

In the Gospel reading, Jesus is amazed at the gratefulness of the Samaritan. Leprosy was a terrible illness that caused those afflicted to be banished from the community. The other nine, who were Jews, never came back to say thank you. Just like in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus uses the Grateful Samaritan to expose the attitude that had entered many Jews of his time. Because of their privilege as the Chosen People, many Jews regarded themselves as superior to other nations, especially Samaritans who had mixed with non-Jewish peoples. It is because of this attitude that they even refused to accept Jesus as the promised Messiah and went on to crucify him. The nine Jewish lepers probably thought it was their right to be healed by Jesus.

Faith is a gift given to us by God and not our personal achievement. God gives us his gifts not because of something good in us but because of his everlasting goodness. Do you think you have merited all the good things you have today? Gratitude is a sign of recognizing the giftedness of God to us, and it enhances our relationship with him. When we refuse to show gratitude, pride enters and leads us to our own downfall. We, too, may have traces of this attitude that make us think that we have merited all we have. We are often very good at receiving but slow to return and show gratitude. This lack of humility and thankfulness denies us God’s blessings.

The fundamental Christian values are love, humility, forgiveness, obedience, and gratitude. Are you a grateful person? Because of his faith and gratefulness, the Samaritan had his sins forgiven on top of being cured of his leprosy. The nine Jews were cured of their physical leprosy but remained with their spiritual leprosy. People can be “saved” but not “healed” of their spiritual leprosy. Many say they have accepted Jesus as their personal saviour, but their lives demonstrate the contrary. Conversion of attitude and conduct must be the true signs of conversion.

St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, teaches us that steadfastness in faith will make us reign with Christ. He is always faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to him, because he cannot disown himself. Today, there is a big commitment deficit in the way we live our vocations and careers. How strong is your commitment to your faith in God?

Dear friends, as we reflect on the value of gratitude, I invite you to look within yourself and see if we are true converts to gospel values. Does your life show it?

Blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD