XXVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 17:11-19
In this Sunday’s readings, we have the story of two outsiders, who were able to recognise the hand of God in the surprise that touched their lives.
Naaman, in spite of being a leper, held a high position as “commander of the army of the king of Syria” (2 Kings 5:1). It is very surprising to find a leper that was not discriminated against. In Israel, a neighbouring country, it was not so. However, with Naaman we are faced with the truth that sickness comes to the rich and the poor alike; it does not discriminate; and all suffer in the same way. And leprosy is a terrible disease that eats away one’s body, leaving the person disfigured and scaring. Even though Naaman, like all sick people, was ready to do anything to get cured, his pride and his sense of honour would not allow him to follow the prophet’s instructions; his servants had to convince him. Then he bathed seven times in the river Jordan and he was clean and healed. His healing led to a profession of faith, saying to the prophet: “From now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.” (2 King 5:17).
The Samaritan was also an outsider, as good as a pagan - so the Jews thought. However, out of ten, he was the only one to go back and to give thanks for his healing. The others had got used to the divine and were not able any more to recognise God’s favours.
There is a Bemba proverb that says: Uushitasha, mwana wa ndoshi, meaning: The one who does not give thanks, is the son of a sorcerer. Why is it so? The ungrateful person thinks that he has a right over the others, and the others are no more than his servants, existing only to satisfy his needs. Someone who is not able to recognise the favours that he receives from others will never recognise the favours that he receives from God. He sees himself as the owner of everything and he is ready to trample upon everybody.
Jesus was very surprised that those who should know better were not able to recognise God’s hands touching their lives, and he praised the thankful attitude of the Samaritan. The others had been healed, but their healing did not lead them to believe. The Samaritan was touched by this great surprise of God’s love, and he believed. And Jesus told him: “Your faith has saved you.” (Lk 17:19).
The Gospel shows us that to be healed and to be saved are two different things. We may be surrounded by miracles and yet remain untouched by them. It was the same with the invalid at the pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:2-15). Instead of thanking Jesus for healing him, he went to denounce him to his enemies.
The Gospel is a warning to us. Beware of letting God’s grace passing by; beware of the inability to be surprised and touched by the God of surprises. When we loose the ability to be surprised, the Spirit of God cannot touch us and inspire us.
In the second reading (2 Timothy 2:8-13), we find Paul in prison, treated like a criminal because of preaching the Gospel. He accepts his suffering and the hardships of prison for the sake of all those who are chosen:
“So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.”
The servants of the Gospel may be put in chains, “But the word of God is not chained.” (2 Tim 2:9).
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