Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C
October 10, 2010
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Opening Prayer
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm: 98:1-4
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19
- This Sunday’s Gospel reading follows Jesus as he continues his journey toward Jerusalem. On the way he passes between the regions of Galilee and Samaria.
- It was only a short time before that Jesus was refused welcome in a Samaritan village (Luke 9:51-56). The Samaritans were historic enemies of the Jews, who considered them pagan foreigners even though many of them had Israelite roots.
- As they travel in this border region, Jesus and his disciples are approached by a mixed group of Samaritan and Jewish lepers. Perhaps their common misery had forced them to band together, since as lepers they were all considered outcasts.
- Excluded from contact with others (Leviticus 13:45-46, 49; Numbers 5:2-3), lepers could return to society only after being made physically and ritually clean (Leviticus 14:2-9). After they beseech Jesus, he tells them what to do to be healed.
- They all obey and are all healed, but only one of them after realizing it, returns to Jesus. Who (or what) he is and why he returns turns out to be very significant.
QUESTIONS:
- Read the verses prior to the First Reading (2 Kings 5:1-13). What is Naaman’s reaction to Elisha’s relayed instructions? Why do you think he reacted this way? What argument did his servant use to change his mind? What is our reaction to God’s commands that do not seem to make any sense to us? What should our attitude and response be?
- Consider the qualities of spiritual patience. Of persistence. Of steadfastness. Of faithfulness. How are these qualities active in the Second Reading? What is their reward?
- What would healing mean for a leper in biblical times? In what ways does the Gospel story of the 10 lepers relate to the story of Naaman in our first reading?
- What is the significance of the one leper being a Samaritan (verse 16)? From what did his faith save him (verse 19)? For what did it save him? What might the healing indicate at a deeper level?
- What do you think happened to the other 9 lepers after they were cleansed and went to show themselves to the priests, as Jesus told them to (verse 14)?
- When your prayer is answered, do you act like the one leper who returned to give thanks, or the other nine who did not? How do you express your gratitude to God?
Closing Prayer
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 2616, 1503-05, 2096-97
Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of men. He loves to teach the ignorant, and the erring he turns again to his own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith, and to those of pure eye and holy heart who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately.
-St. Hyppolytus