A Reflection on Today's Readings

In today's assigned readings, we read a First Testament account and a New Testament account of a healing of leprosy:

First Reading (2 Kings 5:14-17):

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant."

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;" and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused.

Naaman said: "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD."

Gospel Reading (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."

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio wrote a reflection on these two readings and on the gratitude we owe to God for creating us and saving us. Dr. D'Ambrosio notes that we can never adequately repay God, and so owe Him a lifetime of gratitude.

To access this reflection, please visit:

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Thanksgiving - Namaan and the 10 Lepers