Readings and Themes for the Week of October 10, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of October 10, 2010,
Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I 2 Kings 5:14-17

The foreigner Naaman humbles himself and receives God's healing.

Psalm 98

"The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power."

Reading II 2 Timothy 2:8-13

If, like Christ, we hold out even to death, we will reign with Christ.

Gospel Luke 17:11-19

Ten lepers show faith in obeying the Lord, but in the thankfulness, one goes a step farther - straight into the kingdom of God.

THEME:

We are Eucharistic People.

We live in praise and thanksgiving.

The word of God proclaimed today is a word of healing and comfort. At this Mass we bring all our needs to our loving and compassionate God. May the words we hear today inspire us to cry out to God for mercy, healing, and reconciliation. Let us be grateful for the opportunity to be fed so generously at the table of God's word.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Are you able to make up a prayer, which tells God you are thankful for everything you have, even if it is not all you want?

Question for Youth:

Only one of the lepers returned to give thanks.

This past week, when have you stopped to thank someone for something good they have done for you?

When have you thanked God this week?

Question for Adults:

What are some ways you can think of to show gratitude to God?

Bulletin Bites
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?"
"Where are the other nine?"
"Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"

Are we the one? Or are we one of the other nine? Gratitude begins with the recognition that someone has done something good for us. In order to be grateful to God for all that we are and all that we have, we must be aware of and acknowledge that God is the source of all that we are and have. Our response to God should be gratitude. And we can best express our gratitude to God by accepting, developing and using to the best of our ability all that He gave us for ourselves and for others. Note that the one who comes back to thank Jesus is a Samaritan who recognized that Jesus., a Jew, had done something miraculous for him. The Jewish lepers should have done the same, but did not. We may not be able to repay the good and kindness others do for us, but we can acknowledge what they have done and say “Thank you!” Gratitude is an important part of being a good steward.