TWENTY-EIGHTH OF THE YEAR "C"

Cycle “C”: 2 Kings 5, 14-17; Luke 17, 11 – 19

Introduction: In today’s liturgy the Church reminds us of the importance of thanking God. Previous generations give us a fine example in this regard. Those who were close to the soil thanked God in various ways at harvest time for produce such as hay, turf, grain crops and root crops as well as for poultry and animals. In this they resembled the people of the Bible whose three main feats were thanksgiving feasts: Passover/Unleavened Bread (lambs and barley), Pentecost (wheat), and Tabernacles (fruit).

Giving thanks is not only appropriate from a spiritual point of view; it is also good psychologically. When the advertisers remind us of things that are missing in our lives, it is therapeutically good to stop and count our blessings. In our religious practice, we are a Eucharistic people; our central act of worship is the Eucharist. We will be better people, happier people, and more Christ-like people if we bring the Eucharistic attitude of the liturgy with us as we leave church and allow it to become an integral part of our mental pattern.

The Homily

It was the birthday of the 4-year-old child. Around the room were heaps of wrapping papers and tangles of ribbon. The gifts had been opened.  Everyone smiled expectantly when the mother asked the birthday baby: “Dear, what do you say now?” The child answered, “Where are the rest of my presents?” That may be typical behaviour of a 4 year old, but how many of us have the 4 year old within us, asking similar questions: “Is this all I get?” There always seems to be an expectation of more  -  something better, newer, gaudier... What is it we want so badly? What is this emptiness we’re trying to fill? Just as an obese person continues to eat long after the hunger pangs have subsided, so do we look for things outside ourselves to satisfy our deepest longings.

“When I’m famous, everyone will love me,” we might tell ourselves. But fame doesn’t bring true love. One is loved for who one is. The sense of being loved and being loveable is the thing that attracts people to us  -  people who love us without demands, without any strings attached. Being grateful for what we are and what we have puts a smile on our face and gives us a radiance that can be joyfully infectious. Thanksgiving, not complaining attracts people to you. Our dear Lord Jesus was surely impressed by that lone foreigner who hastened back to thank him and praise God. This teaching that we should give thanks to God for our life is driven home in the Gospel. Ten lepers call out to Jesus for healing and he just tells to go and show themselves to the priest  -  something that lepers only must do when they are cured. Finding themselves healed, one returns, prompting Jesus’ question, “Where are the other nine?”  It would appear that the Lord is dropping a heavy hint that 90% of the times we forget to thank him  -  and, to be honest, he’s probably right.

The nine who failed to return were just as glad to be cured as the tenth who did return. So what were they lacking in? They were wanting in the awareness of grace, the awareness of the overflowing goodness of God. The grateful ex-leper was aware that the curing of his body was one more blessing that had come his way, like the air he breathed, the food he ate, the sun and the moon and the rain. In short, he had a thankful soul.

This disease, know as “gratitude problem”, disfigures us far more than any skin disorder.

Winston Churchill loved to tell the story of the little boy who fell off a pier into deep ocean water. An older sailor, heedless of the danger to himself, dove into the stormy water, struggled with the boy, and finally, exhausted, brought him to safety. Two days later the boy’s mother came with him to the same pier, looking for the sailor who rescued her son. Finding him, she asked, “You dove into the ocean to bring my boy out?”  “I did,” he replied. The mother quickly demanded, “Then where’s his hat?”

Some children may be willing to give up their seat to a senior. The shop assistant may or may not thank you for your purchase. Mobile phones and car stereos may be left unchecked in silence zones in the name of human right and personal freedom. But there remains a basic courtesy which is never out of place in any age or society. It was this kind of courtesy that Jesus appreciated in the leper who returned to say thank-you.

Courtesy is a quality that shines out in some unlikely places. Think of the bleak South African township of Soweto at the height of the apartheid era. A priest from the local Anglican mission was making his way along the shabby street when he met one of his parishioners, Mrs. Tutu. Courteous as always, Fr. Huddleston raised his hat, exchanged a word and steps aside to let her pass. That was his invariable practice; yet it was not the civility itself but rather the attitude of respect that underlay it that so impressed Mrs. Tutu’s son, named Desmond, that he found his youthful interest turning towards the Church. He is now Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Ungraciousness is a bad habit -  like that of many drivers of vehicles in Calcutta. Ungraciousness is a non-vehicular road rage. It is a sort of social scabbiness that makes us sour, ugly and unattractive  -  like a leper that people try to avoid. On the other hand, there is beauty around when thanks are exchanged  -  handshakes, smiles and grins dapple the day, like sunlight on a clear running stream. Grateful people have joyful eyes  -  why should ours be jaundiced? What’s more, they don’t fear to look in the mirror in the morning, whatever their hair or skin condition. They’re ready to thank God whatever their circumstances. Circumstances may differ, but we are we are all hewn from sacred rock. It’s true we’re made from dust, but please remember, it is stardust.

In truth, as Christ’s body we are family, not foreigners. St. Paul says, “We may be unfaithful, but God is always faithful, for he cannot disown his own self.” It surely amounts to a good case for the recitation of the Morning Offering and the purchase of a few “Thank You” cards. The Father loves us, despite our leprous instincts. If we can’t do much about our physical beauty, we can surely thank God for our life, and thank our friends for their thoughtfulness. The 14^th. Century German mystic Meister Eckhart wrote wisely, “The most important prayer in the world is just two words long: Thank you.” Yet, we live in a society in which those words are coming to be used less and less frequently not only to God but also to one another. May all of us copy the style of the grateful leper who returned. We should all reflect on the line that teaches, “God has two homes  -  one in heaven and the other in a thankful heart.” Eucharist means thanksgiving; may your lives be eucharistic.

PRAYER by Blaise Pascal, mathematician & man of faith (1623 – 62): 39 years.

O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life except to spend them for you, with you and in you. You alone know what is good for me; do therefore what seems best to you. Give to me or take from me; conform my will to yours; and grant that with humble and perfect submission and in holy confidence I may receive the orders of your holy providence, and may equally adore all that comes to me from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

2 Kings 5:14-17
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19
A reflection on today's Sacred Scriptures:
Despite the fact that God had chosen the Jewish people as His very own, He was disappointed at their lack of faith and trust in Him, and their lack of gratitude for His favors. There are two great stories this Sunday in which God clearly points out that "outsiders" were more trusting in God's healing power and more grateful for His favors than were His chosen people. The two healing stories today highlight Jesus' intention of bringing salvation to Jews and gentiles alike.

The first reading is really a shortened version of the very exciting story of God healing an "outsider" named Naaman, a Syrian military commander who had contracted leprosy. His wife's Jewish slave had suggested that he seek help from the prophet Elisha. He goes to the King of Israel loaded with gifts and letters of introduction from his own king. Fearful of a plot, the King sends him to the prophet Elisha who tells him to wash seven times in the Jordan. At first he storms away in anger. "Aren't our rivers better than yours?" he complains. But on the advice of his own servants, he swallows his pride and obeys the prophet. As soon as he enters the waters of the Jordan, his leprosy is cured! Immensely grateful, he is converted, and worships the God of Israel. In the story, this Syrian has more faith in God's power than the Jews have!

A similar theme is found in today's famous Gospel about the ten lepers. Because their disease -- incurable at the time -- was contagious, lepers were shunned by all and looked down upon as great sinners. The disciples must have been appalled when Jesus shows these outcasts such compassion. When He sends them to the priests for official reinstatement into society, He also heals them during their journey. One of them, a Samaritan, returns immediately, and falls down in thankful adoration at Jesus' feet. Luke emphasizes how disappointed the Master is that only one of them comes back. "Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"

Both of today's readings deal with God's disappointment in His special children, the ones whom He calls His chosen people. As disciples of Jesus, we have ample proof that we are His special ones, His chosen ones. Yet, over and over again, WE, too, have been disobedient complainers. Often we have even turned to false gods of money or possessions and neglected to love Him and to serve Him. God must be so disappointed when we don't show our gratitude for His favors. On the contrary, we are often resentful that God hasn't done more for us. Like spoiled children, we often take God for granted! This ingratitude in the face of His gifts and our indifference in response to His love are what hurt God the most.
We need to ask ourselves today, "Am I really grateful for God's constant love and for His forgiveness? Or do I just take Him for granted?" We pass by the confessional in our churches countless times. Instead of going in from time to time to ask God's forgiveness, we just take it for granted. "Oh, sure I believe that God is forgiving. He forgives me all the time!" And God says, "Not so fast! Show me you mean it."

This Sunday’s (cf. Lk 17,11-19) Gospel invites us to acknowledge God’s gifts with wonder and gratitude.  On the way to his death and resurrection, Jesus meets ten lepers, who approach him, keep their distance and tell their troubles to the one whom their faith perceived as a possible saviour: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (v. 13).  They are sick and they are looking someone to heal them.  Jesus responds by telling them to go and present themselves to the priests, who according to the Law were charged with certifying presumed healings.  In this way, Jesus does not simply make them a promise; he tests their faith.  At that moment, in fact, the ten were not yet healed.  They were restored to health after they set out in obedience to Jesus’ command.  Then, rejoicing, they showed themselves to the priests and continued on their way.  They forgot the Giver, the Father, who cured them through Jesus, his Son made man. All but one: a Samaritan, a foreigner living on the fringes of the chosen people, practically a pagan!  This man was not content with being healed by his faith, but brought that healing to completion by returning to express his gratitude for the gift received.  He recognized in Jesus the true Priest, who raised him up and saved him, who can now set him on his way and accept him as one of his disciples. To be able to offer thanks, to be able to praise the Lord for what he has done for us: this is important!  So we can ask ourselves: Are we capable of saying “Thank you”?  How many times do we say “Thank you” in our family, our community, and in the Church?  How many times do we say “Thank you” to those who help us, to those close to us, to those who accompany us through life?  Often we take everything for granted!  This also happens with God.  It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to return and give thanks…  That is why Jesus so emphasizes the failure of the nine ungrateful lepers: “Were not ten made clean?  But the other nine, where are they?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Lk 17:17-18). On this Jubilee day, we are given a model, indeed the model, to whom we can look: Mary, our Mother.  After hearing the message of the Angel, she lifted up her heart in a song of praise and thanksgiving to God: “My soul magnifies the Lord…”  Let us ask our Lady to help us recognize that everything is God’s gift, and to be able to say “Thank you”.  Then our joy will be complete. It also takes humility to be able to give thanks. In the first reading we heard the singular story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Aram (cf. 2 Kg 5:14-17).  In order to be cured of his leprosy, he accepts the suggestion of a poor slave and entrusts himself to the prophet Elisha, whom he considered an enemy.  Naaman was nonetheless ready to humble himself.  Elisha asks nothing of him, but simply orders him to bathe in the waters of the River Jordan. This request leaves Naaman perplexed, even annoyed.  Can a God who demands such banal things truly be God?  He would like to turn back, but then he agrees to be immersed in the Jordan and immediately he is cured. The heart of Mary, more than any other, is a humble heart, capable of accepting God’s gifts.  In order to become man, God chose precisely her, a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things.  Let us ask ourselves if we are prepared to accept God’s gifts, or prefer instead to shut ourselves up within our forms of material security, intellectual security, the security of our plans. Significantly, Naaman and the Samaritans were two foreigners. How many foreigners, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside!  Those living beside us, who may be scorned and sidelined because they are foreigners, can instead teach us how to walk on the path that the Lord wishes.  The Mother of God, together with Joseph her spouse, knew what it was to live far from home.  She too was long a foreigner in Egypt, far from her relatives and friends.  Yet her faith was able to overcome the difficulties.  Let us cling to this simple faith of the Holy Mother of God; let us ask her that we may always come back to Jesus and express our thanks for the many benefits we have received from his mercy.