What’s in My Pocket

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, October 12th, 2025:
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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2 Kings
5.14-17

​Naaman the Syrian went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; Naaman came and stood before Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.”

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing!” Naaman urged Elisha to accept, but he refused.

Then Naaman said, “If not, please let two mule-loads of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god except the Lord.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

The First Reading today begins in the middle of the story of Naaman’s healing, and it may seem a bit confusing if you don’t know the background of how Naaman went to Ilisha to be healed. When Elisha told Naaman to bathe seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman hesitated to take the direction from Elisha seriously. 

This reading always causes me to pause and reflect on my trust in God’s plan in my life. I am very much like Naaman because when I feel something is going too easily, I doubt God’s work and assume it should have been more difficult. But when things are difficult and do not come easily, I complain to the Lord about how hard He is on me. There really is no pleasing me! 

Naaman ends up following the directions from Elisha and is healed of leprosy. He returns to the prophet Elisha and wants to give him a gift, a thank you for what has been done. Elisha refuses the gift because it is essential to Elisha that Naaman knows that it was the Lord Who healed him, not Elisha. 

I am convicted by Elisha’s response because I often want credit for the things the Lord has done in me and through me. I feel a sense of expectation at being recognized as God’s instrument when, in fact, I have done only what the Lord has asked – and probably not exactly as He asked, but God is able to use me regardless. 

In the end, it is Naaman who leaves with a gift: the soil from the land of the God of Elisha. At the time, it was widely believed that gods were connected to a geographical place. If you were a pagan and you moved, you simply worshipped the god of the land you entered. Naaman was not aware that the God Elisha worshipped, that you and I worship, is not confined geographically but rather is Lord of all the Earth and of all people. Our God is not limited in what He can do or how or where He can work. Naaman was returning to a pagan land and the soil was a reminder to Naaman of all that God has done, ensuring Namaan would never forget. 

In my own life, I carry a rosary and I wear a cross, and I have images in my room and around my home. These are not God and I do not worship them, but they are a great way to recall the Lord and His work and presence and love in my life. These are the tools I use so I never forget. 

But if I didn’t have them, I would definitely carry dirt in my pocket if it meant I would remember the Lord.




​Sister Teresa MacDonald

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