Returned With Gratitude.
Dear Parishioners,
Anything that diminishes the dignity of any human person is strongly condemned by Jesus. Today’s readings give us the opportunity to reflect on the parallels between Elisha-Naaman story and the Jesus-Samaritan story. Naaman was a Syrian army general who suffered from leprosy but came to Elisha the prophet and was healed. He returned with gratitude. Likewise, of the ten lepers cured by Jesus, only the Samaritan returned gratefully to him. How sad it is when gratitude is overlooked.
Jesus was mindful of how the foreigners, lepers or those with physical disability were treated during his time. He was determined to correct such erroneous ideas, stereotypes and ugly attitudes that degrade human beings. He was strong in his condemnation of anyone who neglects the fundamental law of love of neighbor. Jesus expanded our understanding of the dignity that God bestowed on every human person. It should not be compromised. He confronted this error found within the Israelite society with the healing of the ten lepers among them was a foreigner.
During the time of Jesus, the Gentiles had no real recognition in the Jewish society. Leprosy was not an ordinary sickness; it was perceived as a sign of personal sin and a punishment from God. The afflicted person loses his title as a child of God and is expelled from the community. It was a terrible way to treat any person. However, that was the way they handled such an infection disease at that time. Jesus took a different approach. He did not isolate himself from the foreigners and lepers. He was available to them and offered his love and care. He removed the stigma and corrected the notion that leprosy or any physical disability is a punishment from God. He was against denying the sick and the vulnerable from sharing in the life of the community.
The Samaritan and Naaman the Syrian pagan army General teach us the values of gratitude and true conversion. Naaman returned to the prophet, convinced that there is a true God present in Israel as opposed to other gods of the Gentiles. He brought gifts but was rejected by Elisha because he did not want to take away attention from God whom alone honor is due. Remarkably, Naaman asks for soil upon which to build a sanctuary to God where sacrifice can be offered. He was grateful.
Passing through a hostile territory of Samaria, Jesus demonstrates his openness to all people. He rejected to part of the age-old feud and discrimination that existed between the Jews and Samaritans. He did not hesitate to heal and liberate this group of lepers who approached him. In doing so, he fulfilled part of his mission of setting people free from sin and bondage. “He is pointing out clearly that his aim is to rehabilitate man, to give him back not only his dignity as a child of God but also his fellowship in the human community.”
We are conscious of many troubles in the world, challenges facing the church and our own personal failures. Gradually, we are also becoming aware that only Jesus can truly set us free. As Saint Paul teaches, “Salvation is to be found in Christ Jesus…” It will be wrong for us not to return to God even in the face of moral failures. We cannot allow shame or feelings of unworthiness to exclude us from the community of God’s people. Jesus teaches us today that he knows who we are, and he is not tired from the work of saving us. There is no other savior besides him. Don’t reject him and don’t look elsewhere as some people are doing. Jesus is our hope.
Sincerely Yours In the Lord,
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
