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10-14-07
Scripture Readings
First : 2 Kings 5: 14-17
Second : 2 Timothy 2: 8-13
Gospel Luke 17:11-19
1. Subject Matter
• The Gospel this week deals with the story of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus, only one of
which, a Samaritan, returned to him to give thanks. The question of ingratitude as a sin and
as St. Thomas Aquinas describes it, a “special sin” is a natural subject for a sermon this
week.
• The first reading also deals with the leprosy of Naaman the Syrian, whose leprosy was
healed by the prophet Elisha. Leprosy is a biblical metaphor for sin, as the sufferer is
existing in a kind of living death, which under the law made him unclean for worship or even
life within God’s people; the spiritual disease which is sin likewise separates the sinner from
God and the holy community, the Church, that rightly worships him; but the power of Christ
can heal one even from the "living death", which is sin. The Sacrament of baptism is
prefigured in Naaman’s miraculous healing in the Jordan river.
• Because it Christ has healed us from sin and death, and has opened the gates of Heaven to
us, we have a duty to show gratitude to him. This is expressed in the life of prayer, and
above all in our fervent participation in the Churches sacrifice of Thanksgiving (Eucharistia),
which is the Holy Mass, and in our adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
2. Exegetical Notes
In belated obedience to the command given him by the prophet Elisha, Naaman the Syrian
washes seven times in the Jordan and is cured of his leprosy. Made clean, he presents
himself to the prophet, and vows never to serve any other God accept the God of Israel. In
profound gratitude, he asks permission to take two mule-loads of the soil of Israel upon which
to erect an altar to God in his own nation, but upon God's earth. The passage foreshadows
the Sacrament of Baptism, instituted by Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River, by which we
have freed from the loathsome contagion of sin, and so made fit for righteous worship and
thanksgiving (Eucharist) in the presence of the true God. Although God owes us no debt of
gratitude ( cf. last week's reading Lk 7: 1-10), we all him profound gratitude for the gifts of
natural life, salvation, and eternal life which he has bestowed upon us.
The passage consists of two parts: vv. 8-10, in which Paul summarizes his Gospel about
Jesus Christ, and vv.11-13, in which Paul adapts an ancient Christian hymn to profess his
faith that the spiritual death we undergo through baptism that conforms us to Christ both in
his dying, and his being raised to eternal life. There is also a confession here of the reality of
mystical body of Christ, in which its members, joined by the power of the Holy Spirit, and
surely be of use to each other through their sufferings and endurance; Paul expressed as the
hope that though he is imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, what he suffers will be useful to
those other Christians, who like him, remain steadfast to their baptismal faith in Christ.
The story of the 10 lepers follows last week's warning against resting in one's own works.
This week, Christ reminds us of the power of grace and our utter dependence on it.
Although by far most commentators take this passage as a miracle story actually reflecting
an event in Jesus’ healing ministry, certain others, most prominently R. Bultmann, hold it to
be a parable based on Mark 1:40-45 and 2 Kings 5 ( on Naaman the Syrian; the text of the
first reading). The judgment is based on the ending of the periscope, which finishes with a
statement, rather than with the spectators marveling at the miracle, as do other miracle
stories. On the other hand, the reference to “ between (i.e., the border lands of ) Samaria
and Galilee” suggests a specific time and place for the miracle, and specific historical detail
not characteristic of the usual parable story.
Castelot (JBC 76:117-119) holds, without making an argument, that leprosy . as discussed in
Leviticus, and by extension in the Gospel under discussion (since Jesus,. come in
accordance with Leviticus 13, instructs the lepers to show themselves to the priests) is not
Hansen’s disease, which is modernly signified by the word “leprosy”. On the other hand,
McKenzie (JBC 43:56), commenting on Matthew 8:1-4, states that the Biblical notion of
leprosy “is used loosely throughout the Bible for unspecified skin diseases,” including, it
would seem, Hansen’s disease. (The basic medical facts of Hansen's disease are described
below, under “ Other Considerations”). It seems the commentators are divided as to whether
the ten men appeared to Jesus are lepers in a modern medical sense. In any case, for
purposes of the didactic content of the healing miracle, it matters not whether we are dealing
with Hansen's disease or eczema.
V. 12: The ten “leproi” are a mixed company, containing both Jews and at least one
Samaritan. Both those who are members of God's people in those out side of it share the
same physical disease; sin and the power of sin likewise afflict both those to whom God's
revelation has been entrusted and those who are ignorant of it.
v. 14: On hearing, the lepers’ plea for healing Jesus enjoins them to show themselves “to
the priests” - and this without yet being healed. They are cleansed on the way, having first
set themselves to obey the word of Christ . without yet seeing its effect. Christ requires them
to act in faith, without immediately seeing the benefit of his healing power.
V. 15: The Samaritan who turned back to give thanks recalls the Syrian Naaman (of this
week's first reading) , who turned back to thank the prophet Elisha, giving thanks to God, and
vowing to worship, the God of Israel from then on. In another text, Jesus uses Naaman as
an example of someone outside of Israel to whom the power of God was manifested (Luke
4:27) ; likewise, it is to a Samaritan woman that Jesus promises an extension and perfection
of the reign of God : (John 4:21) “ Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will
worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” Jesus emphasizes that the
proper attitude of the heart, for one who has received the grace of God is one of thanksgiving
and gratitude. In this he holds up the Samaritan, who though he does not obey the whole
law of Moses, from his heart, who fills the obligations of thanksgiving and gratitude
possessed by a heart rightly ordered to God.
V. 15 “Stand up and go, your faith is saved you.” The Samaritan's faith in Jesus has
brought him salvation, not his, from the Jewish standpoint, imperfect and incomplete
observance of the law of Moses. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ; a point which the
Savior makes elsewhere in this Gospel (7:50; 8:48,50)
7. Other Considerations
• More Information on Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy):
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001347.htm#Definition (Condensation):
Leprosy (Hansen's disease)is an infectious disease that has been known since biblical times.
It is characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and progressive debilitation. It is
is caused by the organism Mycobacterium leprae. It is not very contagious and has a long
incubation period (time before symptoms appear), which makes it difficult to determine where
or when the disease was contracted. Children are more susceptible than adults to contracting
the disease. Leprosy has two common forms, tuberculoid and lepromatous. Both forms
produce sores on the skin, but the lepromatous form is most severe, producing large,
disfiguring nodules. All forms of the disease eventually cause peripheral neurological
damage (nerve damage in the arms and legs) which causes sensory loss in the skin and
muscle weakness. People with long-term leprosy may lose the use of their hands or feet due
to repeated injury resulting from lack of sensation. Leprosy is common in many countries
worldwide, and in temperate, tropical, and subtropical climates. Approximately 100 cases per
year are diagnosed in the United States. Most cases are limited to the South, California,
Hawaii, and U.S. island possessions. Effective medications exist, and isolation of victims in
"leper colonies" is unnecessary today. The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium
leprae, as well as increased numbers of cases worldwide, have led to global concern about
this disease. A number of different antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that causes the
disease. Aspirin, prednisone, or thalidomide are used to control inflammation. Early
treatment limits damage by the disease, renders the person noninfectious, and allows for a
normal lifestyle. Prevention consists of avoiding close physical contact with untreated
people. People on long-term medication become noninfectious (they do not transmit the
organism that causes the disease). Update Date: 7/25/2007
• Hansen's disease has a similarity to and seems to be an apt metaphor for the condition of
the mortal sinner in that the person far removed from the gift of fear of the Lord, which St.
Thomas Aquinas associates with the theological virtual of hope, likewise ceases to “feel” the
spiritual effects of their sin. As the leper frequently inflicts long-term and repeated injury
upon his or her body precisely because of the inability to feel, and is ignorant of the pain and
infection associated with these injuries, so does the sinner, in the midst of sin, cease to feel
the wickedness or evil of the deeds and life to which he or she is committed.
Recommended Resources
Brown, Raymond E., S.S., Fitzmeyer, Joseph, S.J., and Murphy, Roland E., O. Carm. The
Jerome Biblical Commentary. Two Vols. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.,
1968.
John Cassian. The Conferences. Trans. and annotated by Boniface Ramsey, O.P., Ancient
Christian Writers Series No. 57. Walter J.Burghart, John Dillon, and Dennis D. McManus, Eds.
New York, N.Y. and Mahwah , N.J.: Newman Press, 1997.
Jurgens, William A. The Faith of the Early Fathers. 3 Vols. Collegeville, Minnesota: The
Liturgical Press, 1979.
Thomas Aquinas, St. Catena Aurea: Commentary on the Four Gospels Collected out of the
Works of the Fathers.. Albany, N.Y.: Preserving Christian Publications, Inc., 2001.
Thomas Aquinas, St. Summa Theologica. 3 Vols. Literally translated by the Fathers of the
English Dominican Province. New York, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, and San Francisco:
Benzinger Brothers, Inc., 1947.
Cameron, Peter John, O.P., ed. Benedictus: Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI. Yonkers, NY:
Magnificat/Ignatius Press, 2006.