28th Week of Ordinary Time C – Sunday

So let's start with the first reading from the Second Book of Kings, the fifth chapter, which recounts to us the story of Naaman. Naaman was a Syrian general, a mighty, mighty commander of an army, and well beloved by the people of Syria, and especially his king Naaman.

Although he enjoyed this renown, this popularity, the honours and the successes of his adventures, nevertheless he suffered from the great scourge of leprosy. But in his household, one of his prized spoils of war was this little Jewish girl who was given wisdom by God. And she said to herself, “If only my master knew that there is a prophet in Israel who could heal him.”

And so she told him about Elisha the prophet, and to Naaman's credit, he didn't say, “Little girl, go back to what you're doing. Just be quiet.” No. He humbled himself, and he made the journey to the Holy Land, to the people of God, and presented himself before the king.

Now, once he got there and he finally got to the prophet, Elisha says to him, “Go and submerge yourself into the Jordan seven times.” And at first Naaman was apprehensive, shocked that he had travelled all that way to be told that he had to immerse himself into the river. After all, so many rivers in Syria were so much more beautiful than the Jordan.

And yet he thinks twice about it and eventually obeys, even though the command doesn't make sense. And he's healed.

In the Gospel, we have the same thing happening, except these are ten lepers, and they're begging Jesus for healing, and He doesn't heal them instantly. What does He tell them? He tells them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”

Now, this is a strange methodology of Jesus, for He was asking them to do something that was illegal, prohibited. A leper could not go into the town and mingle with the people, much less with the priests, unless they believed themselves to be healed of their leprosy. And they would go to the priest, and the priest would give them a clean bill of health, which would reinstate them into the community from which they had been exiled.

And so our Lord is telling them to go show themselves to the priests while still afflicted with leprosy. But they listened to Him, even though it doesn't make sense. And what are we told in the Gospel? As they were walking, they were made clean. The precise words are: “As they were going, they were cleansed.”

Now, only one of them, having realized he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice. And he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. Where were the rest? And how about us?

We ask God for so many things, and He gives us all that we ask, and more and better than what we are asking for. And yet, how many times have we failed to be grateful?

My brothers and sisters, on this Sunday consider trusting the Lord, especially if you're in a situation that you can't understand. Trust Him nevertheless, and He will heal you and bring you strength and abundant graces.

May you be blessed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.