Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Remember

Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time—C

2Kings 5:14-17
2Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19

As Christians, we are called to be a people of gratitude. And to be truly grateful, we must take the time to remember all that God has done for us. As St. Paul says in today’s second reading: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead.”

In the first reading, Naaman the Syrian, after having been cleansed of his leprosy, remembers to give praise to God, and in Luke’s Gospel, the Samaritan, healed by Jesus along with nine other lepers, is the only one to remember to glorify God. Jesus tells him, “Your faith has saved you.”

It is important to recognize that diseases such as leprosy were associated with sin in an ancient world not acquainted with our modern medical advances. So these texts, as do so many others in Scripture, point to something beyond miraculous physical cures. They speak of God’s desire to heal us spiritually. What’s more, they present the theme of universal salvation. Both Naaman and the Samaritan were not only lepers, but foreigners and outsiders. They were not considered a part of God’s people. Yet they were healed because God’s generosity excludes no one.

As God’s people today, do we remember that generosity, and express daily through lives of faith our gratitude for the God who heals all?

4 comments:

Barb said...

I have always tried to instill in my sons to be grateful and thankful for what they have been given in life. After my husband died, I have had to work on that same concept myself. I hope God will be patient with me.

Br. Francis de Sales Wagner said...

God is not only patient with you, but grieves with you. Be patient with yourself, too.

PAX
Br. Francis

Tulle said...

Dear Brother Francis.

Thank you for the beautiful words for Barb.
I have lost half my family to the terrible illness cancer, including both parents and an elder brother. I still clearly remember their sufferings, but I give thanks for every single day I can get out of bed, feeling alive and well and I see each new day as a precious gift.
Many are not that fortunate, and I pray and hope that God will send His mercy and love to these people.

Peace to you.

Tulle.

Br. Francis de Sales Wagner said...

Thank you, Tulle. Indeed, each dawning day is an immeasurable gift.

... and we can also be grateful for the great Communion of the Saints to which we remain connected as the Kingdom of God continues to unfold through the dawn of the Resurrection. Although not fully realized for us here and now, our lives are still one--and perpetually in bloom.

PAX
Br. Francis