Faith, Perseverance, and Personal Relationship

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live in troubling situations with faith and perseverance that deepens our relationship with God and others.

Persevere in Faith

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 extolls God for Israel’s victory.

* [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 reminds us that the Christian life includes endurance, witness, and even suffering.

* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims Jesus Cleansing of 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 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Rashmi Fernando, SJ, comments that all who cry out in their need can experience God’s healing touch, but salvation requires the deeper response of gratitude, faith, and the turning of one’s life toward God. Healing can restore us, but salvation transforms us.

Today, in a world plagued by crises of care, where many seek healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual— these readings challenge us to look beyond the gift to the Giver. Healing may restore us to health, but salvation offers eternal life. Healing may bring relief for a season, but salvation brings communion with God forever. Gratitude, faith, and the willingness to follow Christ are what bridge the gap between receiving a gift and embracing the fullness of salvation. Thus, we are reminded: God’s mercy is wide, his healing is abundant, but salvation is personal. It requires the grateful heart that returns, the faithful heart that endures, and the surrendered heart that proclaims: “Jesus is Lord.” (Fernando, 2025)

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 our own gratitude can lead us to worship the One who has given us abundant life, both now and forever.

We can worship the Lord in many ways, but today, let’s imitate the Samaritan in today’s Gospel:

At Mass today, sing out your praise! Join the choir “in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15) and worship the Lord with all your heart. Kneel in adoration before the King of kings. Rejoice because the Lord says to you, as he did to the Samaritan, “Your faith has saved you” (17:19).

“‘Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds’ (Psalm 98:1).” (Meditation on Luke 17:11-19, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler identifies how in Second Kings, Naaman travels to be healed in Israel by a great prophet after reluctantly bathing In the Jordan at the direction of Elisha. This seemed a strange thing to do and he expected a difficult task he would have done! God is recognized as the Only God in this passage but still seen as a national God. Later, God is recognized as of all nations. Second Timothy, likely written in the name of Paul, suffering in chains, to recall Paul’s faithfulness. There are two different Greek verbs: “mess up” and “deny as not part of my life”. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers and sends them to the priest, following Jewish law, that was considered to be important. The Samaritan, hated by the Jews, came to give thanks. We receive wonders from the Lord that we too often do not recognize. Friar Jude cites an experiment at shopping malls opening doors and only a few people offered thanks. We are a society of entitlement. We may fall into an attitude of focus on what we don’t have.

Fr. Mike Schmitz comments on  today's reading from 1 Maccabees, we hear about the victory of Judas Maccabeus, which is also the story of Hanukkah. In Sirach, Fr. Mike points out that chasing fame and glory in this world are not worth our time, because they will all fade away after we are gone. The readings are 1 Maccabees 4, Sirach 10-12, and Proverbs 22:9-12.

Brian McLaren emphasizes knowing and following Jesus as a prophet: 

Growing up as a Jew, Jesus enters the ancestral lineage of the patriarchs and matriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel. But Jesus also enters through a spiritual lineage of prophets and prophetesses beginning with Moses, the first biblical prophet…. 

If we take Jesus seriously as a prophet, we take his incarnation seriously, because Jesus comes into a particular historical situation. As part of a society, he had to grapple with politics and economics. The crucifixion makes sense because prophets’ lives don’t usually end well. Very few have a comfortable retirement. His prophetic identity also requires us to take the story of the resurrection seriously as a prophetic demonstration and affirmation that the work of the prophet must continue even after he is executed and buried.  

If we let Jesus as prophet be eclipsed by other understandings, Jesus is reduced, and so are we. Jesus wants his followers to become like him…. He says, “My movement is a prophetic movement. If you join my movement, you’re in that line of work, including its hazards.” (McLaren, n.d.)

We are invited by the Spirit to take a few minutes to ponder the gratitude we have for the personal relationships on our journey that call us to live our our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet and leader.

References

Fernando, R. (2025, October 12). Daily Reflection October 12, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-12-2025 

Luke, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17?11 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). Prophetic Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophetic-love/ 

Meditation on Luke 17:11-19. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/10/12/1405661/ 

Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Fell at Jesus' Feet Giving Thanks. Daily Scripture Net. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Kings, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/5?14 

2 Timothy, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/2?8 

Suffering With Healing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the isolation that we may maintain from people on our journey who are ostracized and need the touch of Jesus followers.

Healing our Suffering

The reading from the Book of Leviticus offers advice concerning skin diseases like leprosy describing varieties and symptoms.

* [13:1–14:57] These chapters deal with scaly or fungal infections (Hebrew ṣāra‘at). The older translation “leprosy” is misleading because ṣāra‘at refers to not just one but several chronic and enduring skin diseases in human beings. The disease known as “leprosy” (Hansen’s disease) is probably not included among the conditions described in the chapter. Also the term ṣāra‘at refers to fungal growths in fabrics and on the walls of houses. The reason why these conditions, and not other diseases, were considered unclean may be that they were quite visible, associated with death (cf. Nm 12:9–12), and traditionally connected with punishment by the deity (Lv 14:34; Dt 28:27, 35; 2 Sm 3:29; 2 Kgs 5:26–27; 2 Chr 26:16–21). (Leviticus, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)

Psalm 32 praises the Joy of Forgiveness.

* [Psalm 32] An individual thanksgiving and the second of the seven Penitential Psalms (cf. Ps 6). The opening declaration—the forgiven are blessed (Ps 32:1–2)—arises from the psalmist’s own experience. At one time the psalmist was stubborn and closed, a victim of sin’s power (Ps 32:3–4), and then became open to the forgiving God (Ps 32:5–7). Sin here, as often in the Bible, is not only the personal act of rebellion against God but also the consequences of that act—frustration and waning of vitality. Having been rescued, the psalmist can teach others the joys of justice and the folly of sin (Ps 32:8–11). (Psalms, PSALM 32, n.d.)

In the reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians we are instructed to seek the good of others.

* [10:32–11:1] In summary, the general rule of mutually responsible use of their Christian freedom is enjoined first negatively (1 Cor 10:32), then positively, as exemplified in Paul (1 Cor 10:33), and finally grounded in Christ, the pattern for Paul’s behavior and theirs (1 Cor 11:1; cf. Rom 15:1–3). (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cleanses a Leper.

* [1:40] A leper: for the various forms of skin disease, see Lv 13:1–50 and the note on Lv 13:2–4. There are only two instances in the Old Testament in which God is shown to have cured a leper (Nm 12:10–15; 2 Kgs 5:1–14). The law of Moses provided for the ritual purification of a leper. In curing the leper, Jesus assumes that the priests will reinstate the cured man into the religious community. See also note on Lk 5:14. (Mark, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)

Mary Lee Brock comments that Jesus is living in that tension of wanting to be available to all who express their faith while also feeling the human limits of exhaustion. It is no wonder he asked the man he healed of leprosy to stay quiet.

As I anticipate the beginning of my Lenten journey this week, I pray with these questions: How can I support those who are excluded based on rules and laws? When have I been too afraid to ask for and accept God’s mercy? How can I help disrupt systems of oppression in the way of Jesus? And I pray for the grace to know how best to give glory to God.

I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. (Brock, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Why did Jesus touch the leper,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

"And why did [Jesus] touch him, since the law forbade the touching of a leper? He touched him to show that 'all things are clean to the clean' (Titus 1:15). Because the filth that is in one person does not adhere to others, nor does external uncleanness defile the clean of heart. So he touches him in his untouchability, that he might instruct us in humility; that he might teach us that we should despise no one, or abhor them, or regard them as pitiable, because of some wound of their body or some blemish for which they might be called to render an account... So, stretching forth his hand to touch, the leprosy immediately departs. The hand of the Lord is found to have touched not a leper, but a body made clean! Let us consider here, beloved, if there be anyone here that has the taint of leprosy in his soul, or the contamination of guilt in his heart? If he has, instantly adoring God, let him say: 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.'" (excerpt from FRAGMENTS ON MATTHEW 2.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:40-45 comments that while we might not be afflicted with leprosy, there is something that can cut us off from God and isolate us from other people: our sin. But on the cross, Jesus took on himself our sins and those of the whole world. By his resurrection, he destroyed the power of sin and death. Sin has no hold on him, and he does not fear it. Each time we come to him in repentance, seeking healing and restoration, he replies to us as he did to the man with leprosy: “I do will it. Be made clean” (Mark 1:41).

So come to Jesus with your sins. Bring to him your isolation and suffering. He won’t pull away from you. He is the pure One who removes all of your impurity. He is the holy One who takes on your sin and strips it of its power over you. Like the man suffering from leprosy, don’t be afraid to approach Jesus. Let him bring you restoration and healing!

“Jesus, in my weakness and need, I come to you! Cleanse me and make me whole.” (Meditation on Mark 1:40-45, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes the cultic liturgical instructions in Leviticus for dealing with contagious skin disease. Leprosy was identified later as a serious skin contagion. Paul emphasizes that we need to act in a way that gives no offense but offers respect to others and their customs. Friar Jude notes that the proclamation of healing by the leper results in Jesus seeking isolation in a deserted place.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares how studying the mystics can transform us and help us meet the needs of our times.

Mystics have plumbed the depths of both suffering and love, and emerged with depths of compassion for the world, and a learned capacity to recognize God within themselves, in others, and in all things. If we can read the mystics with an attitude of simple mindfulness, the insights and practices they share can equip us with a deep and embracing peace, even in the presence of the many kinds of limitations and suffering that life offers us. From such contact with the deep rivers of grace, we can live our lives from a place of nonjudgment, forgiveness, love, and a quiet contentment with the ordinariness of our lives—knowing now that it is not ordinary at all!

By applying the wisdom of the mystics to our daily and even momentary outlooks, we will be able to bring open-heartedness into the lives we lead and the work we do. Then we might just be able to recognize that the ordinary path can also be the way of the mystic. It is all a matter of the eyes and the heart.

Studying the mystics, and hopefully identifying with them in at least some small way, allows us into the seemingly simple yet always profound realm of those who have found their way close to God and all of creation. The path of the mystic is within our reach. [2] (Rohr, 2024)

We are nudged by the Spirit to contemplate the lives of people who are outcast and shunned and to seek openness to their needs in our actions.

References

Brock, M. L. (2024, February 11). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021124.html 

Leviticus, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/leviticus/13?1 

Mark, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?40 

Meditation on Mark 1:40-45. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/11/893042/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/10?31 

Psalms, PSALM 32. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/32?1 

Rohr, R. (2024, February 11). The Wisdom of the Mystics — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-wisdom-of-the-mystics/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Lord Jesus Can Make Me Clean. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb11