LITTLE THINGS - 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (10/9/2022)

28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 9, 2022

2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm 98
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19

LITTLE THINGS

How often have we heard, "it's the little things that count." Little things - like "please" and "thank you," like a word of praise or encouragement, like asking advice and actually taking it, even little things that don't seem to make a lot of sense, like washing seven times in the Jordan River!

2 KINGS

Our first reading is taken from the stories about Elisha in 2 Kings. This one concerns a military officer from Syria named Naaman, who contracted leprosy. A servant girl suggested that he go to Israel to see Elisha the prophet, who could surely cure him. And Naaman does travel to Israel to see Elisha.

Elisha, however, doesn't even meet with Naaman but rather sends him a message to wash seven times in the Jordan. Naaman was offended and angry, not only at the apparent snub, but at the utter simplicity of the direction. Indignant, he is planning to return to Syria. Once again, the servant girl saves the day and persuades Naaman to just do what the prophet told him to do, no matter how simple and easy it seemed. Little things, right?

Naaman is, of course, healed of the leprosy and goes back to Elisha saying, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel." Then Naaman offers Elisha a gift, which the prophet refuses. Our reading ends here but for an interesting drama revolving around the gift offer and Elisha's servant, I recommend that you check out 2 Kings 5:20-27. Spoiler alert - things did not turn out well for the servant!

The Responsorial, Psalm 98, refers to the gentiles (such as Naaman) seeing the saving power of God.

GOSPEL

Today's gospel is that of Jesus healing the ten lepers. Only one - a Samaritan - returns to Jesus to give thanks. Like Naaman in the first reading, this man is also a foreigner to Israel who received the Lord's healing. And like Naaman, the Samaritan returns to the one who was the instrument of his healing. Jesus responds, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

I have always found it interesting that Jesus noted that only one of the healed lepers returned to offer thanks. He asked out loud the very pointed question, "Where are the other nine?". A little thing? Maybe not so little!

2 TIMOTHY

In today's second reading, St. Paul encourages his disciple, Timothy. Even though Paul himself might be chained up in prison, "there is no chaining the word of God!"

This reading ends with what is apparently the remnant of an ancient Christian hymn honoring Christ Jesus. "If we have died with him, we shall also live with him. If we endure with the Lord, we shall also reign with him." These verses have been incorporated into another beautiful hymn, Keep in Mind, written by Fr. Lucien Deiss, CSSp, in 1965.

THERE ARE NO "LITTLE THINGS"

It has always impressed me that throughout the gospels Jesus took note of what we might call "little things" - marks of courtesy, good manners, signs of respect. In today's gospel, Jesus makes it a point to mention that only one leper came back to offer thanks, whereas nine did not. Jesus noticed when he was not given the signs of greeting and respect customarily given to dinner guests (cf. Luke 7:44-46). In other words, Jesus noted when he was ignored, snubbed, or taken for granted, especially by those he had blessed or healed.

Let us pray today that Jesus would never have to complain about us for doing that!  For where God is concerned, it's never a "little thing."