28th Sunday in the Ordinary Time
9th September 2022 (Sunday)
To be Grateful is to be responsible!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are on the 28th Sunday in the Ordinary Time. Today's readings invite us to reflect on Gratefulness. With this small understand in our mind, Let us read the readings and reflection of 28th Sunday in the ordinary time.
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For more certainity the Readings are posted from the Catholic Lectionary {alertInfo}
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
In those days: Naaman the Syrian went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant." But he said, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule-loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord."
Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (R. see 2b)
Response: The Lord has shown his deliverance to the nations.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my Gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.
Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertSuccess}
Main Theme: To be Grateful is to be responsible!
Indicative: Genuine Gratitude springs only from a deep rectitude of heart and leads life to the joy of beatitude{alertWarning}
1. Gratitude can be the predominant theme of today’s word of God. In the first reading, Naaman, a Syrian pagan is healed of his leprosy by Elijah and he returns to pay his grateful tributes to him. In the second reading, St Paul with gratitude-soaked responsibility toils for God’s people. Thereupon, he exhorts them to strive for salvation with the same spirit.
2. In the gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers and only one of them returns to thank him. He laments over the lack of gratitude of the nine lepers. This is the typical situation of our present society. It is so sad that society suffers from a rapid disappearance of the spirit of gratitude. There grows a mentality of demanding and grabbing.
3. Often, the good done is taken for granted or demanded as a right. It is always a wonder for me, how people can so easily forget the immense good done to them or the benefits they received so generously, but become so inimical and even harmful!
4. In the light of the episode of the ten lepers, we must clarify certain factors regarding gratitude. First of all, Gratitude is not so much a matter of receiving as many would think. It is a matter of giving, because only one who knows the beauty and value of giving, can profoundly appreciate and thank giving.
5. Real gratitude does not merely comprise and conclude with a loud and long vote of thanks, but rather prompts the receiver to a deep sense of appreciation toward any good, a loyalty toward the giver, and also to an eager seeking and commitment to a culture of giving by himself.
6. Such gratitude is certainly shallow and dubious, when it abounds only in words of thanks, but lacks in sincere thankful actions. Alas! Such gratitude does not merit the name, which not only so easily forgets the good done, but also does evil in return!
7. Let us also pick up some serious reminders on gratitude to serve us as concrete lessons for our daily life.
Two: Value not only the particular act of kindness but much more the person. Never disrespect or hurt or harm a person who has done some good to you.
Third: Never even imagine to take advantage of and manipulate a person who helps you in need, out of the simplicity of charity. Do not make him a prey, an object of your self-interested cunningness and deception. Let us not rate the ability and the success to manipulate and cheat others as a sign of cleverness, but realise it as a heinous crime of failure in charity in disrespect and dishonesty.
Fourth: Every occasion of receiving help and expressing gratitude should also deepen in us a sensitive and ready spirit of giving and helping others, as we ourselves are given and helped by others.
Imperative: Let us constantly cultivate a grateful heart that will grow us into a humble and charitable living{alertWarning}
Video Reflection
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