A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 8, n. 46)
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – October 10, 2010 *
“I Am Suffering …”
BIBLE READINGS
II Kgs 5:14-17 // II Tm 2:8-13 // Lk 17:11-19
(N.B. Series 8 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year C from the perspective of the Second Reading. For reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year C based on the Gospel reading, please scroll up to the “ARCHIVES” above and open Series 2. For reflections based on the Old Testament reading, open Series 5.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
Through the Sunday liturgy, we journey into the heart of the paschal mystery as a worshipping community. Called to remain “in faith and love” in union with our Lord Jesus Christ and nourished by the bread of the Word, we now consider the reality of suffering and its redemptive dimension.
In the Old Testament reading (II Kgs 5:14-17) we hear of Naaman, a magnificent Syrian general afflicted with leprosy, who was cured of his illness by following the prescription of the “man of God” Elisha to go down to the river Jordan and plunge himself into its muddy waters seven times. Naaman’s experience of suffering and consequent healing led to a vehement confession of faith, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.”
Harold Buetow remarks: “His cure was more than physical: It had reached his whole person. So he immediately did two things: First, he acknowledged that the God of Israel is the only God. Second, full of praise and gratitude, he felt compelled to offer the prophet a fitting reward. When Elisha firmly declined Naaman’s generosity, Naaman asked for some Israelite earth to carry home, on which holy ground he could stand before an altar for continual praise of Israel’s God.”
The Gospel reading (Lk 17:11-19) depicts the faith and gratitude manifested by the Samaritan leper, the unexpected hero in this healing narrative. He experienced not merely a physical cure, but the grace of salvation in Jesus Christ, who commanded him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Ten lepers were cured, but only the Samaritan was the recipient of total healing – the one who “returned, glorifying God in a loud voice” – the grateful one who fell at Jesus’ feet. Harold Buetow asserts: “The man underwent the process of conversion necessary for all of us: realizing that we are nothing, acknowledging God and his gifts, being aware that we need God, and desiring to turn to him and serve him with all our heart.” The dreadful disease, the terrible alienation and the painful suffering of the Samaritan finally turned into praise and gratitude after the Samaritan’s faith encounter with Jesus.
The Second Reading (II Tm 2:8-13) is marked with tenderness and pathos. The passage highlights the intense suffering of Paul for the sake of the Gospel. It contains his vehement exhortation to be conformed to Christ’s paschal mystery so as to share his victory. Citing a baptismal hymn, Saint Paul declares: “If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.” Reinforcing the meaning of these statements with his life witness, Paul - the great apostle to the Gentiles - suffered for others: that they may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and share his eternal glory. In his spirituality and mission, Saint Paul thus crystallizes the truth that participation in the paschal suffering is redemptive.
Together with the healed lepers, Naaman and the unnamed Samaritan, and in the spirit of Saint Paul and our beloved Savior Jesus Christ, let us regard pain and suffering as fonts of blessing and grace. Through the power of God, they can be causes for praise and gratitude – they can be elements for “Eucharist”! Indeed, in moments of suffering is the miraculous presence of God. His saving power is exquisitely revealed in our weakness and helplessness.
The following story illustrates the presence of God who gives healing and consolation in our afflictions (cf. Julie Garmon, “Fearless: What Prayer Can do” in GUIDEPOSTS, June 2010, p. 86).
I couldn’t believe what my doctor was telling me. “I need to monitor you closely, Julie, for whatever might come next.” I had just been diagnosed with two autoimmune disorders – celiac disease and Sjogren’s Syndrome. What more could happen? “I wish I could be more definite, Julie”, my doctor continued. “But autoimmune illnesses cause the body to attack healthy tissue. They are really quite unpredictable.”
As I let his office, I felt a cold rush of fear. How could I live like this? The minute I got home, I went looking for help on the internet. The information there was even more vague and frightening. By bedtime, my mind was whirling with negative thoughts. My body was under attack from itself. How could that be? I couldn’t close my eyes until I’d said a prayer. Oh. God, I feel so alone. So vulnerable. Help me know that you are with me.
In the morning I was still so preoccupied with worry that I barely made it to my yoga class in time. I walked in, took a swig from my water bottle and tried to calm down. As Velda, our instructor led us through the poses, I breathed deeply to clear my mind. Today, that was impossible.
At the end of the class I lay tense on my mat, my mind racing. All was quiet. Then Velda did something totally unexpected, something she had never done in the year I had been taking her class. “Our Father, who art in heaven …” she began to recite. She was ending the class with the Lord’s Prayer! Others soon joined in. The sound of those voices praying soothed me deeply. My mind cleared. The tension in my shoulder eased. The knot in my stomach disappeared. Peace filled me.
I made sure to thank Velda. “I needed that prayer more than the yoga today”, I told her. “You know, I didn’t plan to do that”, she said. “But something told me I just had to say it.” Or Someone.
I rolled up my mat and headed home. I knew that no matter what the future held, it would be God not fear leading me through it.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Like Naaman, have you received a healing grace? How did it affect you or change you? Are you grateful? How did you manifest your gratitude?
Do you realize the immense spirit of faith and trust contained in the invocation uttered by the ten lepers, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”? Do you make use of this prayer, especially in moments of distress and great need?
Like Saint Paul, do we suffer with Christ, the Risen Lord for the sake of the Gospel and those who are “chosen”? Do we believe that the following confession is trustworthy: “If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him”?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: O loving Father, almighty God,
you are worthy of honor, glory and praise.
We thank you for your healing power.
We are unworthy recipients of your love –
love without end.
When afflicted with illness,
when helpless,
when overwhelmed with brokenness,
when suffering and in distress ….
we could not help but turn to you.
You never fail us.
You are always there for us.
Your saving power is ever poised
to manifest its greatness.
Please make us whole.
Heal us as you healed Naaman
and the ten lepers who cried out to you,
“Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!”
Like Saint Paul who trusted that your grace is sufficient for him,
help us to surrender our whole being to you.
Teach us to suffer with your beloved Son
for the sake of the Gospel.
Grant us the radical salvation
Christ Jesus gained for us
through the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection.
With the community of saints in heaven
who extol our Lord Jesus Christ,
we cry out:
“If we have died with him we shall also live with him;
if we persevere we shall also reign with him.”
We thank you and praise you,
we serve you and glorify you,
now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.” (cf. II Tm 2:11-12a)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: Pray that those who need healing may truly be healed in their total person. By your works of charity and ministry of presence on behalf of the poor, the sick, the marginalized and the disabled, let the goodness and mercy of God shine through all the earth, evoking the glory, thanksgiving and praise of all nations.
ACTION PLAN: That we may experience more intensely the mystery of suffering that leads to life, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year C, vol. 6, # 46).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US