XXVIII-C: Luke 17:11–19; 2 Kings 5:14–17

Today’s readings bring us two powerful healing stories: one from the Old Testament — Naaman the Syrian, a foreign military commander — and one from the Gospel — ten lepers, including a Samaritan. In both stories, God works a miracle. In both, someone who was seen as an outsider not only receives healing but returns with faith and gratitude. And in both cases, we’re reminded that the greatest miracle is not just physical healing… It’s the transformation of the heart.

In Naaman’s story, he nearly missed healing because he thought the prophet’s instructions unworthy of him. But Naaman’s servants persuade him: if the prophet had asked something difficult, he would have done it—so why not this simple thing? We sometimes resist God’s blessings because they do not match our expectations.

Only when Naaman lays aside pride and receives the prophet’s instruction with humility does healing occur. Healing, here, is tied to obedience and trust, even when the means seem simple or lowly. Afterwards, Naaman’s gratitude is not superficial—he changes allegiance. He declares that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Gratitude draws him into covenantal faith.

The Samaritan’s gratitude springs from a profound awareness that he had not earned God’s mercy; as an outcast, he asked and received it freely. His response was to give thanks and praise, recognizing the gift of healing and the generosity of God. Moreover, because Samaritans were not accepted in the Jerusalem Temple or by Jewish priests, the Samaritan leper bypassed religious formalities and came directly to Jesus to express his gratitude—a further sign of his faith and devotion.

Gratitude Requires Recognition: We cannot thank God for what we fail to notice. The nine lepers presumably returned to their families, delighted, yet they did not recognize—or chose not to dwell on the deeper meaning behind their cure. The Samaritan saw beyond the surface. In our own lives, God’s mercies are abundant but often unnoticed: a spared accident, an encouraging word, an opportunity we did not expect. Without awareness, gratitude cannot grow.

Like those two, We All Need Healing. We may not suffer from leprosy like the ten men in the Gospel, or like Naaman. But all of us carry wounds — some are physical, others emotional, spiritual, relational.

• Maybe it’s the wound of anxiety or depression.
• Maybe it's a broken relationship with a family member.
• Maybe it’s grief, or a fear about the future.
• Or maybe it’s a deep feeling of unworthiness — like we’re too far gone for God to care.

Just like the lepers who “stood at a distance,” sometimes we feel like we’re on the outside, too — far from God, far from others, ashamed or forgotten.

But what does the Gospel show us? That Jesus sees. Jesus hears. Jesus responds.

“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And Jesus does. He doesn’t heal them with a dramatic gesture — he gives them a simple instruction:
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they were going, they were cleansed.

Sometimes God doesn’t work instant miracles. He asks us to take a step in faith, and healing happens along the way — through prayer, support, obedience, sacraments, or time.

Is there a step God is asking us to take right now — a step of faith, even before things are fixed or feelings change?

The Power of Gratitude: The most striking moment in the Gospel is not the healing — it's the response.
Ten were healed. Only one came back. A foreigner. A Samaritan.

Jesus asks:

“Where are the other nine?”

It’s a question that echoes into our world today. We can be like the nine: we experience good things, but we quickly move on. We forget to return to the source — to God.

Think about this:

• How many of us remember to thank God after we get through a hard time?
• How often do we thank Him in the small, ordinary moments — waking up, a friend’s kindness, a child’s smile, a meal on the table?
• Do we come to Mass out of obligation… or as an act of thanksgiving?

The word Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving.” Every Mass is our opportunity to return to Jesus — like the Samaritan — and fall at his feet in gratitude.

The one leper who returned was not only healed — he was saved. Jesus says: “Your faith has saved you.”

He received more than the others because he came back with a heart full of worship.

So how do we live like that leper? 

Here are three simple practices for daily life:

1. Practice Daily Gratitude

One of the practical Ways to grow in Gratitude is to do a Daily Examen of conscience. Each evening, take one minute to thank God for three things. They can be big or small. This rewires the heart to look for grace. This trains the eyes of our hearts to see God’s action.

 

2. Return Often to the Eucharist

Make Sunday Mass not just a habit, but a conscious homecoming to Jesus. And when possible, come during the week — even for a brief visit in Adoration.

3. Share Your Gratitude with Others

When you notice God working in your life, tell someone. Gratitude is contagious. Your story may lead someone else to recognize God in their own life.

Finally, let’s not be part of the nine who went on with their lives and forgot who healed them. Let’s be like Naaman, like the Samaritan — those who came back, who gave thanks, who turned a miracle into a moment of faith.

Because ultimately, it's not just about being healed. It's about being saved, being whole, and living a life centered on Jesus Christ.

So… what blessings have you forgotten to thank God for?

Today, this week — return to Him. Say thank you. And hear Him say to you:

“Stand up and go. Your faith has saved you.”