A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 17:11-19
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"And when he saw them, he said,"Go show yourselves to the priests."As they were going they were cleansed.And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.He was a Samaritan.Jesus said in reply,"Ten were cleansed, were they not?Where are the other nine?Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;your faith has saved you."
REFLECTION
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
Leprosy in the day of Jesus was the worst illness one could have. First are the leprous sores, then the loss of sensation, then the loss of body parts and the stench of rot and decay. But the worst, at least for me, was the ostracism from society. The ten stood at a distance from Him, asking for pity.
And from a distance they were cleansed.
But only one came back to thank Him.
PONDER
Is gratitude a lost art? We give gifts, receive gifts, help someone in need or someone helps us. Sometimes we say thank you, sometimes others don't show acknowledgement. We do our best but our best is given back to us as not good enough. Or we expect and take for granted the effort, time and work from someone. Some of us have a grateful disposition. Others, depending on their mood or their work/home environment, can have selective times for thankfulness. And others get an emotional high and for the moment are grateful, but it is just temporary.
The cleansing of the lepers was physical. Imagine what God can do for your spiritual life.
PRAY
We thank you, Lord, for all you have given us. As St Paul said, " Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We choose not to deny you, Jesus, but to praise and thank you, finding our strength in the faith that saves us. Amen
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