1st Reading – 2 Kings 5:14-17

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of Elisha, the man of God. 
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. 
On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
“Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,
except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.”

Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;”
and despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused. 
Naaman said: “If you will not accept,
please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,
for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice
to any other god except to the LORD.”

Our first reading this week is from the collection of stories in 2 Kings about the prophet Elisha. In the verses before this reading, we meet Naaman, a powerful military commander of Aram who is afflicted with leprosy. Despite his wealth and status, Naaman is powerless to heal himself.

After a young Israelite servant girl directs him to Elisha, the prophet instructs him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman initially scoffs at the prescription, angry and disappointed at a seemingly ridiculous command, but his servants persuade him to try it.

Continue reading “Oct 12, 2025: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)” →