Reflection for the
28th Sundays in Ordinary Time Year C
(2Kg 5:14-17, 2Tim
2:8-13, Lk 17:11-19)
After receiving his healing,
Naaman the Syrian, jubilantly returned to Elisha saying, “Behold, I know that
there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from
your servant.” But to his greatest surprise, Elisha rejected the gifts. Being a
foreigner who worshiped idols, he thought that the God of Israel operated in the same way of gifts in exchange for power like the pagan gods. Thus, by believing
now that the God of Israel is great, he came to compensate Him with many gifts.
But through Elisha, Naaman must learn in a deeper way the real gratitude God demands.
We find this
lesson again displayed in the Gospel of today. Ten lepers approached Jesus, and
shouted from a distance, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They believed in the power of Jesus to heal, so they dipped
themselves in Him with loud cry that came from the dept of their hearts. This was the kind of
thing Naaman did when he dipped himself seven times into the Jordan. Jesus
answered them, “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” On their way, they were
cleansed. Now, Jesus becomes for all time the living Jordan where we enter and are cleansed.
Naaman returned to Elisha; among
the ten lepers, only one returned to Jesus, and he was a pagan. But unlike
Naaman, the man returned to Jesus empty handed. Yes, the ten recognized in Jesus the source of their healing and they were cleansed. However, only one came back to
make friends with Jesus. This gesture reflects the silent lesson Elisha taught
Naaman. God’s gifts are free and unmerited. What He demands is true worship,
for He alone is God. Then Naaman said, “For henceforth your servant will not
offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.” His conversion of
heart; the offering of himself to God, is the real gift God wants. This is the
lesson for all time.
And that was why the return of
the Samaritan pleased the Lord. By showing appreciation he sought the joy of the Lord; he offered back to Jesus the life he received. At this point of conversion and total surrender,
the man received another level of healing: “Rise and go your way; your faith
has made you well.” Now his spiritual and inner life has been cleansed. He has
been redeemed! He goes home with the joy of the Lord in him, in addition to the joy and excitement
of his physical healing. Gratitude brings double blessings! Thus, St Paul said to Timothy, “If we have died with him,
we shall also live with him...If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he
cannot deny himself.”
We need to learn this lesson of
gratitude anew. Appreciation of God’s blessings should not be blurred by
material gifts but must target the conversion of heart. Jesus should be the
central target of all that we desire. Salvation is what He is offering us in
exchange if we come back to Him with gratitude. The Word of God cannot be chained; it must
surely liberate us. We are grateful; therefore, we adore! Gratitude is the new
attitude in hearts touched by the salvation we have in Christ Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus! I am saved!
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday 13th October,
2019.
Throw back: You can also read another version of this reflection which I published in October 2016. It is quite insightful. follow the link below
https://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-saving-gratitude_11.html
