The bull of St Luke

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Your faith has saved you: Lk 17,11-19

Having read this story of the healing of the ten lepers, read for background the story of Namaan the leper, 2 Kings 5. It's as well to read the whole chapter. As you read the story, record the various stages by which the healing unfolds. In particular, follow Namaan through the story. What does the prophet Elisha do? How does Naaman reach his conclusion?

Look back to 5,12-16 and the first healing of a leper in the Gospel. Review what we learnt there about leprosy and lepers. Look again at Lev 13,45-46. What is the difference between the two healings?

Where is Jesus in verse 11? What point is the evangelist making?

There are some interesting variations in the translations in verses 13 and 19. Which translations do you think I would prefer and why?

How does the healing unfold? Compare this incident for example with 16,19-31.

How is the Samaritan of the group to react to the command to show himself to the priests? There is a clue to his dilemma in John 4,20-21.

Consider verses 15-16 as the key to the incident. Why might I prefer the NABRE translation to the NRSV?

What therefore is the climax?

Most translations miss the point in the first half of verse 19, as in 4,39. For the second half see 8,48 and 18,42 (though again there will be variations within the translations).

Is there a connection with the previous episode?

Go now to my response.

The Sunday Gospel

The healing of the lepers, Lk 17,11-19, is read as the Sunday Gospel on the 28th Sunday of the Year.

The Old Testament reading, 2 Kings 5,14-17 is just a short extract from the story of the healing of Naaman the leper by the prophet Elisha which we have now read. How does this prepare us for the present Gospel story? We can note as well that the healing of Namaan has already featured in the Gospel (4,27).

Notice how the key theme of the Gospel and the Old Testament reading occurs in the reading from St Paul writing to Timothy.
It occurs too in the responsorial psalm: with what feast is this psalm associated?

Go now to my response.

We can now continue our reading of this chapter with the Jesus speaking to his disciples about the coming of the Son of Man, Lk 17,20-37.