Sunday 13 October

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Day of Prayer to Respect Human Life

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

Only two foreigners returned to praise and thank God

Naaman, a foreigner and leper – plus the ten lepers – were social outcasts in Jewish society, yet were healed because, in their desire to be cleansed, they believed in the one, true God of Israel. God’s prophet Elisha directed Naaman to immerse himself seven times in the Jordan River: Jesus directed the lepers to show themselves to the priests. All were cleansed, but only two – and they were Gentiles – praised and thanked God for their healing.

Christian prayer contains one or more of these elements: Petition, Praise, Thanksgiving, Sorrow.