The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to cooperate with the healing compassion and mercy of Christ that the Spirit exhorts us to trust.
In the reading from the Second Book of Kings, Elisha cures Naaman’s Leprosy.
* [5:12] Wash in them and be cleansed: typical of the ambiguity in ritual healing or cleanliness. The muddy waters of the Jordan are no match hygienically for the mountain spring waters of Damascus; ritually, it is the other way around.
* [5:17] Two mule-loads of earth: worship of the Lord is associated with the soil of the Holy Land, where he is present. (2 Kings, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter to Timothy teaches about Faith and Denial.
* [2:8–13] The section begins with a sloganlike summary of Paul’s gospel about Christ (2 Tm 2:8) and concludes with what may be part of an early Christian hymn (2 Tm 2:11b–12a; most exegetes include the rest of 2 Tm 2:12 and all of 2 Tm 2:13 as part of the quotation). The poetic lines suggest that through baptism Christians die spiritually with Christ and hope to live with him and reign with him forever, but the Christian life includes endurance, witness, and even suffering, as the final judgment will show and as Paul’s own case makes clear; while he is imprisoned for preaching the gospel (2 Tm 2:9), his sufferings are helpful to the elect for obtaining the salvation and glory available in Christ (2 Tm 2:10), who will be true to those who are faithful and will disown those who deny him (2 Tm 2:12–13). (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus cleanses Ten Lepers.
* [17:11–19] This incident recounting the thankfulness of the cleansed Samaritan leper is narrated only in Luke’s gospel and provides an instance of Jesus holding up a non-Jew (Lk 17:18) as an example to his Jewish contemporaries (cf. Lk 10:33 where a similar purpose is achieved in the story of the good Samaritan). Moreover, it is the faith in Jesus manifested by the foreigner that has brought him salvation (Lk 17:19; cf. the similar relationship between faith and salvation in Lk 7:50; 8:48, 50). (Luke, CHAPTER 17, n.d.)
Tom Lenz asks what his intentions are when he is longing for something. Is he only thinking about his own superficial and personal needs, or does this longing have greater depth?
As I re-read through this reflection it may seem like I have strayed from the story of the “ungrateful nine.” But the connection is this notion of intentionality – in both praying to God and going to Mass, which I feel like I should be applying to all situations within my life. What are my intentions in my relationship with my spouse and kids? What are my intentions in the work I do? What are my intentions in my relationship with God? Are they superficial or do they carry a greater dimension of depth that I should be more conscious of? The one Samaritan who returned to Jesus to give thanks seems to be conscious of this transcendent moment. By his “thank you” action he is not only showing his gratitude for being healed, but is also showing how he can see the bigger than himself picture of life. And for that Jesus responds with, “your faith has saved you.” (Lenz, 2022)
Don Schwager quotes “Cleansing of the ten lepers,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"Why did [Jesus] not say, 'I will, be cleansed,' as he did in the case of another leper (Luke 5:13), instead of commanding them to show themselves to the priests? It was because the law gave directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy (Leviticus 14:2). It commanded them to show themselves to the priests and to offer a sacrifice for their cleansing. He commanded them to go as being already healed so that they might bear witness to the priests, the rulers of the Jews and always envious of his glory. They testified that wonderfully and beyond their hope, they had been delivered from their misfortune by Christ's willing that they should be healed. He did not heal them first but sent them to the priests, because the priests knew the marks of leprosy and of its healing." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILIES 113-16) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 17:11-19 comments that readings like today’s can prompt us to examine our faith. Does it include the grateful, joy-filled worship of the Samaritan? Or like the nine, do we limit ourselves mostly to prayers of petition and acts of obedience?
Don’t worry; everyone needs to deepen their faith. Just don’t think that you have to do it on your own. Worship is a two-way street. Just as deeper faith can lead to more joyous worship, so too can prayers of worship and praise deepen your faith. So lift your heart to Jesus. Proclaim his greatness. Praise him for his love and mercy. Let your worship—and your faith—help you experience his salvation more and more.
“All praise to you, Jesus, my Savior and my healer!” (Meditation on Luke 17:11-19, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the cure of the leper and foreigner Naaman by Elisha and the action to bring the soil of Israel to Syria for prayer to God. Unfaithful sin is often without a great deal of reflection, whereas denial is a fundamental stance against Jesus. Friar Jude reminds us of the healing of body and soul as the Samaritan is saved.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares one of the Eight Core Principles that are the foundation of the CAC’s work.
Jesus consistently stands with the excluded, the outsider, the sinner, and the poor. That is his place of freedom, his unique way of critiquing self-serving cultures, and his way of being in union with the suffering of the world—all at the same time. That is his form of universal healing. It also puts him outside any establishment thinking.
It is rather obvious that Jesus spends most of his ministry alongside the marginalized and people at the bottom of society’s hierarchies. His primary social program and main form of justice work is solidarity with suffering itself, wherever it is. Jesus stands with the demonized until the demonizing stops. This is the core meaning of his crucifixion, and why the cross is our unique agent for salvation and liberation (see 1 Corinthians 1:17–18).
Jesus’ agenda has led us at the CAC to our central emphasis on contemplation and spiritual conversion. Our work is the work of human and divine transformation. The experience of universal kinship and solidarity with God, ourselves, and the rest of the world is a grounded runway for significant peacemaking, justice work, social reform, and civil and human rights. Such work flows from a positive place, even a unitive place, where “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). We want people to bear much fruit in the world “and fruit that will endure” (John 15:5, 16). (Rohr, n.d.)
We are grateful to live in our relationship with Christ that transforms our intentions and actions to live with compassion and mercy for all.
References
Lenz, T. (2022, October 9). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/100922.html
Luke, CHAPTER 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17?11
Meditation on Luke 17:11-19. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/09/508109/
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Fell at Jesus' Feet Giving Thanks. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/jesus-is-our-central-reference-point-2022-10-9/
2 Kings, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/5?14
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/2?8
No comments:
Post a Comment