This Sunday’s Old Testament reading foreshadows baptism and our need to cooperate with God’s grace:
“Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy. Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant'” (2 Kings 5:14-15).
Elisha, a prophet and wonder-worker, does not accept the gift. Instead, he acknowledges that the only repayment necessary is to give to others the gift that we have freely been given. Recovery works the same way. Many people get sober or find freedom from their addiction and attachments, although remaining in the Light tends to be a challenge. We need spiritual honey and sugar through unity, service, and recovery, or else we are bound to return to our old, dark comforts.
Step 1 is a crucial starting point where we fully recognize ourselves as akin to bruised fruit. Like our baptism, this step is a tangible way to surrender and plunge into the new life made available by God. Many of us like to think that we can achieve the work of the divine all by ourselves.
Within this group, there are a handful of people who, after a few unsuccessful attempts, have collected enough data to determine that the best path in life is the one paved by God’s will. Others need to be mangled quite a bit before returning to the garments of baptism or other avenues of deep surrender. This is the message shared by Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel reading:
“As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!’ And when he saw them, he said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, ‘Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?’ Then he said to him, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has saved you'” (Luke 17:11-19).
Reflection Questions
- How do you relate to Saint Francis de Sales’ metaphor of bruised fruit and the need for true spiritual honey and sugar?
- Be practical in sharing how you stay rooted in unity, service, and recovery.
- What is going on in your life today (related to your addiction, compulsion, or unhealthy attachment) that requires a true spiritual solution?
Sunday Mass Readings
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
Reflection by Scott W.