Today we learn about gifts of healing and hope that Almighty God shares with His children...
Reflections on the readings for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 9, 2022): 2KGS 5:14-17; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4; 2TM 2:8-13; LK 17:11-19
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
We also need to understand that pain and difficulties are part of human life -- and as followers of Christ we have to be ready to accept and emulate Christ’s own suffering.
From the Old and New Testament readings, we hear about the painful affliction of leprosy that torments both body and spirit -- and wonderful stories of people cured from this dread disease. As lepers, Naaman and the ten whom Jesus met, had experienced great physical pain. Moreover, they had been made outcasts, prevented from having an ordinary life. In the name of God, Elisha the prophet healed Naaman, a military commander for the king of Aram. Jesus healed ten people, Jews and Samaritans, who ask Him to have pity. We also hear from St. Paul about His own anguish. Throughout his writings, he speaks about many hardships, including imprisonment. “I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with Him we shall also live with Him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:9-12). Paul wants Timothy and all Christians to share their faith in Christ and live His message -- no matter the cost.
Paul also reminds us that we have received salvation through Jesus who died and rose from the dead for us. God can and does heal His wounded children. But sometimes we are called to join our trials to those of our Savior. We must persevere to the end. We cannot do this on our own but, by entrusting ourselves to Him, we will find the strength to endure. We draw ever nearer to Christ when we imitate His goodness, His mercy, His suffering. It can be hard, sometimes it can feel almost impossible, to focus wholeheartedly on our relationship with Jesus and on life everlasting with Him. When we are weighed down with pain and trouble, it is difficult to think of anything but ourselves. Yet that is what our Redeemer asks of us: to love and serve Him and to love and serve our brothers and sisters. By easing their physical and spiritual burdens, by giving example through our life of faith, we participate in their healing. By letting our Lord make use of us according to His will, we truly join Him in offering this sacred gift.
