October 12, 2025
18th Sunday after Pentecost
Introduction
It’s a miracle! Multiple miracles! The waters of holy baptism have healed us. The body and blood of Jesus in holy communion have made us clean. We have died with Christ and been raised with him. For all this we have returned to offer thanks. From this place we are sent on our way rejoicing to share the good news.
Scripture Readings
-
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Naaman washes in the Jordan and is cleansed
-
Psalm 111
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. (Ps. 111:1)
-
2 Timothy 2:8-15
If we die with Christ, we will live with Christ
-
Luke 17:11-19
One leper made clean by Jesus gives thanks to God
Hymns:
864 Praise my soul the king of Heaven
453 Baptized and Set free
840 Now Thank we all our God
Anthem: Miracle Worker- J. Raney
Communion Hymns:
608 Softly and tenderly
813 Faith of our Fathers
Commentary
Blessings and Miracles Abound
Today is a day of unexpected blessings and miracles, signs of how God is active and alive and present in our world and in our lives when we are open and receptive to the possibilities. We hear, read about, and experience healing. Fragile relationships are restored. Hope is experienced in profound ways. Naaman, a commander and mighty warrior, suffers from leprosy, and even though he first denies the cure, Naaman accepts the advice of his servant, and by God’s action his skin and its disease is washed clean. Also afflicted with leprosy, ten lepers implore God’s mercy and are made clean. But the outsider—the foreigner—is the only one who returns to give thanks. Today many of us encounter other hardships of all sorts, and our reading in 2 Timothy makes the stark point that we all suffer. But our God joins us in our sufferings and in our hardships, making us whole through our spiritual cleansing of baptism and filled with God’s Spirit.
Prayer for the Fall Season
Loving God, we give thanks for the gift of work and the many forms it takes to sustain our lives. We pray for all who labor, from those laboring in the fields to feed the world and for those who work in mines, factories and offices to those who care for families and communities, that their efforts may bring dignity and honor to Your name.
We ask for strength for the weary, wisdom for the diligent, and compassion for those who labor in difficult conditions or for less than fair compensation. Open our hearts to see the injustices that trouble you and to act with courage to create systems of work that are just and fair for every worker.
Guide us to treat one another with kindness and respect, building relationships that foster unity rather than division. Lead all people to embrace compassion for one another. Help us to listen and to share differing perspectives without retribution. May we remember our accountability to each other and be responsive to the call to serve our neighbors, both near and far.
We pray for children everywhere as they begin new school years. Already we have witnessed to the death of children as they were praying to you, another shooting at a high school resulting in more deaths and an assasination at a university event. Help us to have the courage to enact sane gun laws that protect all from unnecessary gun violence and death understanding that we do not have to give up our right to bear arms to make this world a safer place by revising and improving our gun laws.
You know all those things that weigh heavily upon us O Lord. Help us to find joy in little things, and hope to sustain us through the days ahead.
Draw us in love to you. Fill us up with your Spirit and your wisdom. Give us the energy and the will to follow you and to rise up against tyranny, injustice and hate. Make us generous and compassionate in our service to others.
We thank you for all those who minister and lead your people in praise, thanksgiving and faith. Bless their ministries and help us to appreciate their talents and gifts of service.
As we rest this day, we lift up our families and our communities. Grant us the grace to recognize the blessing in our labors and to live in a way that brings praise to you, in all we do, and in all the days to come.