Homily Cycle C 10-12-2025 [28th Sunday Ordinary Time] offered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Bethlehem, PA. Prayer “There go I with the Grace of God.”
Today’s Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Second grade students at a Catholic school were asked to draw a picture from the Bible. When the teacher reviewed their artwork she saw a drawing with a man & a woman without any clothes sitting on the back seat of a limousine & a man with a long white beard in the driver’s seat.
The teacher said to the little girl who drew it,”… there is nothing like this in the Bible”…. – the girl opened to the Bible to the Book of Genesis where it says, “And God drove Adam & Eve out of the Garden.”
Today our Scriptures point out to us that the 1st step in being healed is recognizing that you are sick or have a problem. Naaman knew two things: he was sick and where to go for healing. The ten lepers in our Gospel knew those same two things.
Some people look at the crosses they see others carrying and say, “There go I but for the grace of God.” Some people who carry those or other crosses say, “There go I with the grace of God.”
This morning, I am going to share with you two stories and ask you to research two others on the Internet. The two I want you to research are: Jermaine Gardner, the pianist, born without one eye, no nose and a misshapen face, [https://guideposts.org/positive-living/friends-and-family/parenting/children/a-childs-disability-meets-a-mothers-unending-love/] and Patrick Henry Hughes, born without eyes and without the ability to straighten his arms and legs, [https://patrickhenryhughes.com/], both accomplished musicians with powerful stories.
The two I am going to share with you. Author Kelly Adkins wrote about Kevin, her 30 yr. old 6’ 2’’ brother in an article entitled, “God Lives Under the Bed.” “I envy Kevin. (He) thinks God lives under his bed, one night walking past his bedroom I heard praying out loud in his … bedroom. I heard him pray, ‘Are you there God?’ - ‘Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed ….’ [Kevin is] mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor.
He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old. Up before dawn each day, off to work … home to walk our dog, then his favorite dinner macaroni and cheese and later bed. Twice a week he stays up late to gather dirty laundry for his next day’s chore, doing his laundry. On Saturday’s … my Dad takes him to the airport for a soda, and they watch the planes land.
His life is simple; his heart is pure .… he trusts God.
One day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened …. Kevin won’t be surprised at all! [http://www.the-special-needs-child.com/Under-the-Bed.html] Kevin knows how to Pray, how to Live and how to Trust in God.
The other vignette I want to share with you is about my son Brian and his wife Laurie. As some of you remember Laurie suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and stroke in 2018. At that time, their two children were ages 7 and 4. Your prayers aided in Lauire in becoming a miracle, she is today.
My son Brian prayed each day since then, “There go I with the grace of God.” It hasn’t been easy, but it is blessed and grace-filled.
Our Scripture Readings focus on Faith, Gratitude and Prayer. Faith and Prayer are obviously theological, but Gratitude is both secular & theological. As I look out upon you this morning I am filled with Gratitude because each of you is a gift from God.
This morning let’s ask ourselves, “Do I seek only the gifts of God OR am I truly seeking God Himself?
Naaman and the Samaritan were cured, were blessed and we are blessed in many ways. Naaman and the Samaritan recognized God as the source of their healing. For us as Catholics giving thanks is not just a secular attitude but an act of giving glory to God, the essence of our being.
You and I are called to recognize God by being Thankful & that is what The Eucharist teaches us. Today reflect on Whether you seek only the gifts of God or are you truly seeking God Himself?
May God Be Praised.
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