Posted on October 10, 2025 View all Gospel Reflection
“The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.” (Psalm 98:2)
In the first reading for today we have the tail end of the encounter between Naaman and Elisha. We also see ten lepers approach Jesus for healing. In both of these encounters they receive healing. In that time leprosy was not well understood and if you contracted it, you were outcast from society – even your own family. While today we know it to be a treatable bacterial infection, back then leprosy instilled great fear. Furthermore, a person with leprosy was considered unclean and unable to enter the temple and do other things related to the Jewish faith.
What is especially helpful to look at is the case of Naaman. He was an army commander of the king of Aram. He was very esteemed for his victories, even victories against the people of Israel, yet he had contracted leprosy. What happened next is a good example of how God works to put people in our lives for our own good. It was a little girl’s who was a servant of Naaman’s wife that said to her “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3) Trusting in the word of this little girl, Naaman set out for Israel. When he finally arrived to the prophet’s house, Elisha didn’t even come out to greet him. He was told by a message to go wash in the Jordan seven times.
Naaman became angry. I suppose he was insulted that the prophet didn’t even come out to greet him. Elisha didn’t even do anything. He just said to go into the muddy waters of the Jordan and wash. Naaman thought this was ridiculous and was starting to leave. It was only when his servants said to him “My father, if the prophet told you to do something extraordinary, would you not do it?” (2 Kings 5:13) And so Naaman went down into the waters as Elisha had said and his flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Sometimes what needs to be done seems very hard or even impossible. But then God asks us to something simple. Simple, yet requiring humility. Like when Jesus said to the ten to go show themselves to the priests. Or go wash in the Jordan.
This week we are invited to reflect on our need for the power of God in our own lives. We each have many things that need healing. Most of the time, we either overthink the solution, or are overwhelmed by what is required from us. Jesus invites us to approach him with humility. He alone can save us. He alone can heal us. He might extend grace to heal us physically, but what he always does is heal us spiritually. What it takes is to approach Him with humility. Jesus said “there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:27) The Jews who heard this were outraged and insulted by Jesus’ words. But these words are true and direct. They cut to the heart of our own sinful inclinations and pride.
When Jesus saw that only one leper had returned to give thanks to Jesus, Jesus said to him “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17:19) In these very words Jesus tells us that it was not the obedience alone or the washing alone (in the case of Naaman) that healed them, but rather the humility to do what God was asking, and to return and give thanks to Him from whom the healing came. As we reflect on our needs and the presence and power of God in our lives, let us first ask Him for the grace to be humble and second for the courage to be thankful for all the blessings we have received from our God.
