Reflection for October 12, 2025

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

2 Kings 5:14-17 | Psalm 98:1, 2-3,3-4 | 2 Timothy 2:8-13 | Luke 17:11-19

​The readings for this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time teach us a beautiful truth: true faith opens our hearts to God’s mercy, moves us to give thanks, and leads us to the fullness of salvation. Each reading reveals a different face of faith—faith that trusts, faith that remembers, and faith that returns in gratitude.​

One afternoon in 2016, in a quiet barangay in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Mang Ambo knelt in the small chapel near their home. His wife, Nanay Lita, had fallen seriously ill, and the medicine she needed cost more than what they had. With calloused hands folded tightly, he prayed, “Lord, You know our need. Please provide what we cannot.” As he stood to leave, his young daughter, Janina, ran after him holding a small coin pouch. “Tatay,” she said, handing it over, “bring this with you.” He smiled sadly. “But it’s empty, anak.” Janina looked up with innocent certainty. “You prayed for help this morning, didn’t you? Don’t you believe God will fill it?” Mang Ambo said nothing, but his eyes grew moist. That evening, a neighbor unexpectedly stopped by, bringing a small envelope from a friend in town—with just enough money for the medicine. And in that moment, Mang Ambo realized—faith doesn’t wait for the blessing; it carries the empty pouch believing God will fill it.
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Faith opens our hearts to God’s mercy, as we see in Naaman’s healing in our first reading. Though reluctant at first, Naaman’s humble obedience to Elisha’s simple command allowed God’s grace to transform him. His healing was not only physical but also spiritual; his faith led him to recognize the one true God. In our own lives, God’s mercy meets us when we choose trust over pride—when we forgive instead of holding grudges, when we pray even in doubt, or when we follow God’s word despite not fully understanding it. Faith allows healing that goes deeper than the surface—it renews our hearts. Every humble act of trust becomes an open door for grace. As St. Padre Pio reminds us, "Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer."
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Roselio, a postal worker at the Manila Central Post Office, was sorting mail one morning when he spotted an envelope that made him squint. It had no stamp, no return address, and was addressed simply to “God—Heaven.” The handwriting looked like it had wrestled with the pen. Curious, he opened it and read: “Dear God, This is Lola Pacing from Dapo Settlement in Pandacan. Someone stole my ₱1,000 cash aid. I have nothing left—not even for rice. Please help me.” Roselio’s heart melted faster than ice in Divisoria. He rallied his fellow workers, passed the hat around, and together they raised ₱800. They sent it straight to Lola through special delivery that same day. A week later, Roselio spotted another envelope addressed to God—in the same wobbly handwriting. Smiling, he opened it and read: “Dear God, Thank you so much for the ₱800! Now I can buy food and medicine. You’re truly wonderful. P.S. It was ₱200 short, but that was probably those thieves at the Post Office."

Faith that remembers what Christ has done for us naturally moves our hearts to gratitude. In our second reading, Paul urges us to “remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,” calling us to remain steadfast even in suffering. Gratitude takes root when we see that every blessing—including our hardships—can draw us closer to God. We give thanks when we stay hopeful amid trials, when we continue to serve others despite exhaustion, or when we choose to begin and end each day in prayer instead of complaint. Such gratitude strengthens our faith and opens our eyes to the quiet ways God works in our lives. True thanksgiving is not merely spoken—it is lived through endurance, love, and trust. As Saint John Chrysostom once said, “No one can feel grateful to God and be a murmurer at the same time.”

There was once a woman named Agot who had been diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told her she would need to undergo a series of chemotherapy treatments. It was a long and painful journey—her body weakened, her hair fell out, and there were days when she wanted to give up. But day and night, Agot prayed. “Lord,” she whispered, “You are my strength and my healer. Please see me through.” Months passed, and at last, her treatment was complete. When the results came, the doctors smiled and said the words she had been longing to hear: “You’re cancer-free.” Overwhelmed with joy, Agot cried, laughed, and celebrated with her friends. But that night, when the house grew quiet, she returned to her small prayer corner—the same spot where she once wept in fear. She knelt down again, not to ask, but to thank. And the next day, she began helping others in need, grateful to share the life that God had healed.
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In our Gospel, ten lepers were healed, but only one—a Samaritan—returned to thank Jesus. His faith not only brought physical healing but also the fullness of salvation. Gratitude perfected his faith. True faith doesn’t end with receiving blessings; it draws us back to the Giver with hearts full of love and thanksgiving. We live out this faith when we thank God after a hardship, share our blessings with others, or return to prayer after being helped. Each expression of gratitude deepens our friendship with Christ and transforms healing into wholeness of heart. Faith reaches its fullness not in miracles, but in a life of gratitude and faithfulness that leads us ever closer to God. "One of the first lessons we learn as children is to say ‘thank you.’ Yet as we grow older, we often forget this simplest act of grace—thanking the very One who gives us everything." As Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us, “A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows—so is one thankful heart enough to bring light to the world.”
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