(2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19)

Like many of you who are parents or Grandparents, occasionally we have to remind our grandchildren to say please when they ask for something and thank you when they have received something. It is one of the little things we do to help our youngsters to fit into the expectations of society. Thank You! Two little words that can mean so much.  When we are grateful for something we say thanks or thank you.  Often, we say it without even thinking, for example when a shopkeeper gives us our change.  Good manners dictate that we show our gratitude.  We can also become quite upset if we believe that we deserve thanks and the appreciation or acknowledgement is not forthcoming.

In today’s readings we have examples of both.  If we read earlier in the Book of Kings we discover that Naaman was a pagan commander of the Syrian Army, he had already visited Israel, waging war, gathering goods and chattels and enslaving some of the people.  When he was struck down by leprosy, he was desperate for a cure and was told about the prophet Elisha by his wife’s Israelite slave.  So, he returned to Israel, this time not to wage war but to be cured of leprosy. Elisha sent a message to Naaman to bathe seven times in the river Jordan, he was furious at first, but he was persuaded to follow Elisha’s instructions and as we hear in our first reading today, he was cured.

Rather than return home, he sought out Elisha to thank him and offer a reward, Elisha refused all offers of reward knowing that he was only God’s messenger, it was God who cured the Syrian.  He did, however, allow Naaman to take some soil from the land home with him to build a shrine to the one true God.

In our Gospel we hear of another foreigner showing gratitude for his miraculous cure from leprosy.  The only one among the ten cured lepers, who actively sought out Jesus to thank him.  Jesus is mystified, weren’t there ten of you?  Where are the others?  No doubt the others were grateful, but the Samaritan was the only one to show his gratitude. 

The Gospel reading reminds us of how Jesus heals us of our Spiritual wounds in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Every time we approach the Confessional for forgiveness, we are like the ten lepers seeking healing. Jesus healed all of the lepers and allowed them to rejoin the Community. Reminding us, the Sacrament of Reconciliation reconciles us with God and our Community. Our penance afterwards not only allows us to repay God’s love but is a moment when we can thank God for the forgiveness He offers. I usually say a prayer for the priest who celebrates the Sacrament for me in addition to the penance I have been given, it is my way of showing gratitude for his time spent celebrating the Sacrament.

Pope Francis when preaching on these readings points out “Significantly, Naaman and the Samaritan were two foreigners. How many foreigners, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside!  We have just returned from a holiday in Morocco, a Muslim country. I was really impressed by the regular call to prayer which Islam has, it was also at a suitable time for me to say my Morning and Evening Prayers, bringing Pope Francis’ words to life for me.

The message in today’s second reading picks up a theme from last week’s readings. St Paul is encouraging us to remain faithful no matter what happens in our lives. By maintain our faith we may attain eternal Glory.

So, perhaps we can have a look at any recent times when we have found our faith tested. If there are no instances recently then maybe have a look further back.

What was the cause of our testing?

How did we restore our faith?

Have we thanked God for His part in restoring our faith?

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church[1]

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 1503-1505, 2616: Christ the healer
CCC 543-550, 1151: signs of the Kingdom of God
CCC 224, 2637-2638: thanksgiving
CCC 1010: the Christian meaning of death

Please remember in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
  • All those attending the RCIA programmes
  • Those preparing for the start of the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
  • Our politicians and leaders that they look out for the poor, the lost and the lonely when they are making deals.

Deacon Tony

18th September 2025.

[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments