Luke 17:11:19

2 Kings 5:14-17

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

2 Timothy 2:8-13

Luke 17:11:19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,

he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.

As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.

They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,

“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

And when he saw them, he said,

“Go show yourselves to the priests.”

As they were going they were cleansed.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed,

returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;

and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply,

“Ten were cleansed, were they not?

Where are the other nine?

Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”

Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;

your faith has saved you.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you always give good things to your children. You are a loving Father who knows what we need even before we ask you. I thank you for your goodness and mercy towards me and pray that I may respond faithfully to your love.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Ten Lepers: In the Gospel, ten lepers met Jesus at the entrance to an unnamed village. Numbers are important in the Bible, so what might be the significance of the number ten on Jesus’ journey through Samaria and Galilee? It evokes the ten tribes of Israel that were exiled under the Assyrians in 722 B.C. This is underscored by the fact that one of the ten lepers was a Samaritan. Samaritans were distant descendants of the ten northern tribes of Israel, but were considered impure by the Judeans because their ancestors had intermarried with foreign immigrants and honored foreign gods (2 Kings 17:24). In this way, the ten lepers represent the lost tribes of Israel who needed the cleansing, mercy, and salvation that Jesus Christ could give. When Jesus directs them to show themselves to the priests, it was a way of being faithful to the Law of Moses, which required priests to examine whether or not a cleansed leper could be readmitted into the community. It was also anticipating the sacramental role of priests in the New Covenant, especially their role in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

2. The Old Elisha and the New: Through this miracle, Jesus reveals himself as a New Elisha. Elisha, in the Old Testament, was the prophet who followed Elijah and ministered to the northern tribes of Israel. Elisha was the one who cleansed a foreign leper while living in Samaria (2 Kings 5:1-14). Jesus is the New Elisha, whose ministry began after that of the New Elijah, who is identified in another gospel as John the Baptist (see Mark 9:9-13; Matthew 17:9-13). Elisha cleansed just one leper; Jesus, the New Elisha, cleanses ten in this passage. By cleansing the Samaritan leper along with the other nine, Jesus initiates and anticipates the ingathering of all nations into the Kingdom of God’s family. Like the Samaritan leper, we need to give thanks to God for all that he has done for us through his Son and Spirit.

3. The Blessing of Life through Suffering: Last Sunday, we began to read from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. Paul is encouraging Timothy to persevere in his mission in Ephesus and also in suffering. “Timothy must be brave and steadfast under trial, especially since the gospel he preaches will inevitably spark opposition from those offended by the Cross and uncomfortable with the harsh reality of sin (3:12; Galatians 6:12). The commitment expected of him is exemplified in the soldier (2 Timothy 2:4), the athlete (2:5), and the farmer (2:6), all of whom receive rewards for their toil and dedication” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 2138). The Second Reading begins after these examples. Paul points out that he is suffering in prison in Rome for the Gospel. Although Paul is in chains, the Word of God is not chained. In fact, it is spreading throughout the world through the ministry of people like Timothy. The paragraph concludes with a list of blessings and curses that await us. If we are faithful and die with Christ through Baptism and sacrificial suffering, then we will live with him; and if we persevere in our life with Christ, then we will reign with him. However, if we are unfaithful and deny Christ, he will deny us, but also remain faithful.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the model of a life full of innocent and redemptive suffering that leads to the blessing of heavenly glory. You have gathered me into the family of your Kingdom, healed me, washed me in the Spirit, and now reign at the Father’s right hand. Guide me to the Father’s embrace in all that I do this day.

Living the Word of God: How is my gratitude toward God and toward others? If I see that I have been ungrateful, what is the cause? A prideful, arrogant, self-sufficient heart? Being consumed by the anxieties and cares of this world? Indifference to the many gifts I have freely received? How can I incorporate more thanksgiving into my daily prayer?