Sunday's Message for 10/10/10 - Say Thank You to God!

1st reading is from 2 Kings 5:14-17

Naaman was healed of his leprosy through the help of a man of God named Elisha.  In thanks, he wanted to acknowledge God by giving Naaman a gift. 

Naaman refused saying "As the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not take it," and despite Naaman's insistence, he still refused.

Naaman said, "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule loads of earth, for I will no longer offer sacrifice to any other god except to the Lord."

2nd reading is from 2 Timothy 2:8-13

St. Paul, while he was in jail, wrote a letter to Timothy, urging him to press on despite the difficulties.  Preaching the Good News was risky business and you could be persecuted for it.  Yet the Word has survived for more than 2,000 years, thanks to the early Christians who took those chances to spread it.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.  But the Word of God is not chained.

Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.  

This saying is trustworthy:  If we have died with Him we shall also live with Him;  If we persevere we shall also reign with Him.  But if we deny Him, He will deny us.  If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 

The gospel reading is from Luke 17:11-19 

Jesus performed many miracles during His ministry here on earth.  This story tells us about the 10 lepers who were cured, yet only one thanked Him.

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."