The connection between the First Reading, from 2 Kings 5:14-17 and the Gospel, Luke 17:11- 19, set for today is clear.
In both passages from scripture a person who has been cured from a skin complaint give thanks to God. I would recommend we all read the full account of the cure of Naaman the Syrian, it is one of the most powerful accounts of the interaction between a prophet, Elisha (an inspired teacher and proclaimer of the will of God) and a powerful general, Naaman. Jesus alluded to this Old Testament scripture at the beginning of his own public life whilst in Nazareth. (Luke 4:27).
Naaman is a great and powerful general, who wishes to be cured of a skin disease, he seeks the help of Elisha and Naaman is angry and enraged when Elisha doesn’t come out of his house to meet him. Elisha sends a message with clear instructions and only after Naaman decides to follow the instructions is he healed.
Naaman is healed after listening to the message from God given to him through Elisha. Naaman, when healed, gives thanks to God and on giving thanks his life undertakes a powerful conversion and transformation to follow always what God is asking of him.
It is at this point that Naaman learns one other important thing – God distributes gifts with freedom and generosity. In return God expects nothing. However, God’s does hope that in generously distributing gifts and an individual establishing a relationship through discernment and prayer and personal and collective action each one of us will use God given gifts and favours for the good of all.
In the Gospel we hear about how Jesus, continuing his journey to Jerusalem, heals 10 people with a serious skin condition. This story is a lesson about faith and reminds us that faith is sometimes found in unlikely places.
Struck with a need to help and assist these marginalised and ostracised people in society, Jesus heals all 10. Only one individual who is healed gives thanks to Jesus and glorifies God. The one who returns and gives thanks is a Samaritan, a foreigner. In the Jewish circles in which Jesus lived, Samaritans were looked down upon because of the differences between the two communities in their observance of Judaism. It is significant, therefore, that Jesus commends the Samaritan for his faith, which has been his salvation.
So, who are we? Are we a Naaman or the Samaritan who thanks God for the gift and favours we receive in life or are we one of the other 9 who quickly forget and ignore the gifts and favours God gives us?
The question of who we are, is an important question which scripture and the parables of Jesus invite us to examine our most cherished inner most thoughts and our actions. It is for this reason that the readings each week should unsettle rather than reassure us, should allow us to reassess our lives, change our approach in a positive Christian way and to say thank you.
