Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
There are two very powerful stories in today’s scripture readings. The first story is the healing of Naaman the Syrian (2 Kgs 5:14-17), and the other is Jesus healing the ten lepers (Lk 17:11-19). As powerful as these stories are in themselves, I would like to reflect on them from the perspective of a sentence from today’s second reading. Paul writes to Timothy, “But the word of God is not chained” (2 Tim 2:9).
Let me provide the context for these words from Paul before I draw three practical implications for today.
It is obvious from 2 Timothy 2:8-9 that Paul was writing from prison. He writes, “… such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.” In fact, this was his second imprisonment. He was first put in prison in 62 AD after his fourth missionary journey. During this time he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus. Paul’s second imprisonment was under Emperor Nero in 66-67 AD. However, there was a difference between the first and second imprisonment. During his first imprisonment he lived in a “rented house.” But the second time, he languished in a cold dungeon, chained like a common criminal. Even his friends even had a hard time finding out where he was being kept. He was lonely and probably, exhausted. Paul knew that his work was done and that his life was nearly at an end. Thus he decided to write a second time to Timothy, which is also our second reading today.
The Gospel Above All
As Paul languishes in prison, his primary concern remained the gospel. This is what fascinates me about Paul. Even when Paul had every reason to drown himself in self-pity or even fear a painful death, he continued to remain obsessed with the gospel and its saving effect on humanity. Hear him say, “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” (2 Tim 2:10). For Paul, then, the gospel remained above all. Not only was he immersed in the gospel, and not only did he spend his life for the spread of the gospel, but even at the lowest point of his life, his burden was the free movement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He might be chained, but the "Word of God is unchained." It is this single-minded devotion to the gospel that made him say, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him” (2 Tim 2:11).
I would like to present a few questions to reflect on this week: “No matter how and when our life ends, will we be able to say, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him?” Would we discover at the end of our lives that the Word of God was unfettered in our lives? Is the gospel above all…, above everything that I am? Is my life a shout-out for the gospel?
“The Word of God is Not Chained”
In my second point, I want to talk about the character of the word of God. When Paul says, “but the word of God is not chained” (2 Tim 2: 9), he is describing the nature of God’s word. The word of God cannot be fettered! God created the universe by God’s word. Nero put Paul in prison, hoping to put an end to the menace of the word of God. Little did he know that he putting Paul in prison was hardly the solution to his problem. “The Word of God is not chained!” The Word of God is free and powerful. The Word of God heals. The Word of God saves. The Word of God accomplishes what it is meant to accomplish. Naaman, the ailing Syrian leper is healed when he obeys the words of the Prophet Elisha. The ten lepers in the gospel were healed because they were obedient to the Word made flesh.
Today’s readings are an invitation – an invitation to put our unconditional faith in the Word of God. For example, the Word of God invites us to forgive. The Word of God invites us to love our enemies. Will the Word of God be unchained in our lives, or will we chain the Word of God? If the Word of God can be unchained in our lives; if the Word of God can have a free rein in our lives; if we relate to the Word of God like Paul, Naaman, and the ten lepers… then healing, power, and salvation is ours as well.
Jesus Unchained!
Let me emphasize another other important detail in today’s first and gospel readings. Naaman, the man healed of leprosy in today’s first reading was a Syrian. Syrians and Israelites were bitter enemies. Naaman was the military commander of Syria. His wife, who was an Israelite, was captured in a bloody raid. Naaman crossed into enemy territory to meet Elisha the prophet. The healing might not have taken place that day. It did! Because the word of God is unchained! Despite the political and cultural enmity, God healed!
In the gospel reading too, Luke does not fail to tell us that the healed leper who returned to thank Jesus was a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans were bitter enemies. The healing might not have taken place that day. But Jesus is unfettered. The “Word made flesh” is unchained.
Too often, we believe that God thinks like us. We believe that our enemies are God’s enemies, and our friends are God’s friends. Take the hint, folks! God will not be fettered by our prejudices, our enmities, our pettiness, and our limitations. We do not own God! It’s the other way around. The universe and all in it belong to God!
Very soon, the Word of God, the "Word Made Flesh" will very soon be on the altar. As we receive the "Word Made Flesh" in Holy Communion, will we allow Him to be unchained in our lives? If we do, then healing and salvation is ours! Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph