Oct. 14: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Anonymous German Master, The Naaman Plaque

The British Museum, London, 12th cent.

Readings for Mass
First Reading: Second Kings 5:14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Second Reading: Second Timothy 2:8-13
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

Then Naaman returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant (NRSV, 2Kings 5:15).’

Let us pray.

Father, how often when we receive a gift, especially if it is healing and new life from you, we want somehow to pay for it. The history of religion is filled with stories of efforts to repay divine gifts or of efforts to curry divine favor. A gift is freely given and everything that we receive from you, Father, is truly gift. All we can do is rejoice in it and be thankful. We pray that we may accept the gift of divine life joyfully and allow it to fill our lives and transform us into new creatures. May we thus get caught up in the life of the Trinity, of giving, receiving and sharing in love, which is the only true sacrifice.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.