Homily, October 12, 2025
From The Pastor
What are you grateful for that inspires you to love, honor, and worship the Lord? What stirs your soul that makes you know that God is present and active in your life? Grace and inspiration are an essential, yet often an underplayed part of our faith. I am not sure we pay enough attention or give enough credit to those moments or seasons of grace in our lives that secure a lively and mature trust in the goodness of God.
One of the challenges of faith is to realize and accept the grace and favors, even the miracles, that God showers upon us. In today’s culture of over- stimulation through media, advertising, and entertainment, how deeply must the grace of God compete to impress and gain a response from those who profess faith in Jesus? The stimulations, enticements, and animations of our culture may please our senses or inspire our interests, but they do not invite or support personal relationships that build faith, secure hope, or inspire love.
The stories in today’s readings are good examples that speak to this point. Naaman is a Gentile Army Commander who suffers the pain and shame of leprosy. As you might notice, we are reading only the second half of his story. Initially, Naaman is resistant and resentful that Elisha has him wash in the Jordan river. Like most of us who seek various kinds of healing, we want a quick and easy prayer said with timely and effective results. Only through the encouragement of his friends does Naaman accept the word of the Prophet. Through humble obedience, he washes in the Jordan river and is fully cured. It is a miracle, an immediate action of Divine intervention.
Notice the effect it has on this strong and powerful man who leads an army. He realized that his healing is an action of God. At first, he attempts to pay or offer gifts to Elisha. Elisha refuses any payment or gift. The Prophet knows the credit is not his but goes to God alone. His refusal of payment deepens the realization of Naaman that his healing was an action of God. It was not the Prophet, it was not the water in the river, it was a personal action of God on his behalf.
Naaman’s soul is stirred. More than a feeling of religious devotion, this strong man realizes a power well beyond his own. He is drawn to the God of Israel, the God of Elisha, and our God. As an expression of this faith, Naaman asks for two mule-loads of earth that he may honor and worship the God of Israel in his own country. He is stirred with gratitude to worshipful praise in a newfound faith in the living God.
The ten lepers in the gospel convey the same message, but in a different way. One way or another, most people believe in God even if they cannot put a name or a face on God. Human beings have an inescapable need for religion, and religion has countless expressions beyond the rubrics of church. True and healthy religion leads to inspired faith, hope, and maturing love. It stirs and awakens the soul. Increasing numbers of people are leaving formal religious practice, yet at the same time there is a swell in those seeking mature spiritual expression in their life.
Ten lepers are healed. Nine go back to church (the Temple), as directed by Jesus, and one returns to the source of his healing to give worshipful thanks and praise with soulful gratitude. What is the difference? Two things. The Samaritan did not belong to the Temple and would not be allowed to enter. More importantly, the Samaritan realized and accepted the power of Divine action through the word of Jesus. He allowed this power to transform his life. He knew it was an act of love that gave him personal healing as well as restoration to his family and community. He realized a power and a truth infinitely beyond himself. He realized his soul, and a oneness with God was awakened in him. Humbled and grateful he falls on his face before Jesus and thanks him from the depths of his being.
Good religion should do the same thing. But it is a two-way street. God cannot do all the heavy lifting. Faith as a gift must be realized, accepted, and acted upon in response to a Divine action. It must be more than an intellectual assent, righteous moral behavior to a set of rules, or a profession of faith in a creed. By itself this will never stir the soul. The believer must realize and accept the action and presence of God in a personal way in their lives. God loves you. But you must allow God to love you. You must be willing to see the grace, favor, or even the miracles God has done for you. Many do not feel this, but it is there. If we only expect the favors of religion by following rules and ‘staying on God’s good side,’ how will we ever know the power of God’s personal love? If sin is always the focus with its pain of guilt and unworthiness, how is the goodness and mercy of God ever going to be realized? Each of us has been freely given the miracle and grace of Divine power in the gift of redemption through the dying and rising of Jesus. We are all swimming in grace. Let your soul be stirred. Give your sin to God and accept the freedom of his healing love.
Father John Esper
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