Reflecting on Naaman’s cleansing and Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers, this homily contrasts merely seeing facts with embracing the truth behind them—the latter can be transformative. That is why one grateful leper was saved—not just healed of his disease. In the same way, in the second reading Paul’s call to hold fast to truth leads to life, and turning away from truth leads nowhere.
Today’s readings are about finding truth and letting that truth transform you — or not.
Our first reading finishes the story of Naaman the Syrian. He’s a great man from a foreign land and a leper whom no one can heal. He hears there’s a prophet in Israel who might cure him, so he goes there to Elisha and asks for help. Elisha tells him to wash — to plunge into the Jordan River seven times. Naaman is outraged at first; he protests that Syria has plenty of rivers. But his servant persuades him, he obeys, plunges in, and is cleansed.
Seeing his flesh restored, Naaman recognizes a larger truth: there is no god in all the earth except the God of Israel. He offers riches to Elisha, who refuses. Naaman then asks for soil from Israel so he can worship the God of Israel at home, but on The LORD's native soil. He’s been opened — with a little coercion — to see a truth bigger than his own, and it changes his life.
The Gospel continues that theme. Jesus heals ten lepers; they all walk away. But one of them, realizing he’s been healed, returns, praises God, and thanks Jesus. Jesus notes that all ten were cleansed, but only one returned — and Jesus says to him, “Your faith has saved you.” That salvation is more than physical healing: the man recognizes that this help came from someone who cares for him, who loves him. He’s transformed; he will follow Jesus and live with an awareness of God’s love for the rest of his life.
The other nine may be overjoyed at being cured, but they miss the deeper truth. They saw the healing but didn’t truly believe or let it change them. They walk away still uncertain — perhaps grateful, but not transformed. They might be worrying about what will happen to them next, when the other shoe will fall—healed from THIS to be taken out by THAT.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy ties these threads together. He urges us to hold fast to what is true: if we die with Christ, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us, and if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Truth carries us forward, even through death, because because of Christ, life is stronger than death. If we reject truth, we separate ourselves from it and live in a lie. The truth itself doesn’t cease to be true; we simply remove ourselves from it — and that path leads to a dead end.
So let us commit to seeking and holding fast to truth. See it, recognize it, and be dedicated to it. When we seek what is true and good, goodness and truth will be bonded to us in a way that transforms our lives and cannot be broken.
That’s good news for this Sunday. God bless you as you reflect on these readings.
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