A reading from 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 voice, 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."
Pope St Leo the Great was a dedicated pope, known for his sermons and administrative skills.
His papacy was noted in four different branches:
Heresies: Fought against the heresy of Pelagianism (overemphasizing human freedom) and Manichaeism (seeing everything material as evil).
Doctrinal Controversy: the Church vs the East regarding the teaching on the two natures of Christ.
Diplomacy: Successfully encouraged Attila the Hun to not attack Rome.
Pastoral care of the people of the Church: He gave spiritually founded sermons, and had the ability to reach the everyday needs and interests of the people. (1)
His most known sermon was on Christmas Day. He spoke of the rejoicing of the saints as they see the palm of victory at hand: he spoke of the joy of the sinner who received the forgiveness: he spoke of the courage of the pagan as he was summoned to life. (2)
Jesus had come to overthrow the devil, in that very nature by which he had overthrown mankind. (2)
“Beloved, let us give thanks to God, the Father, through His Son, in the Holy Spirit, because in His great love for us He took pity on us, and when we were dead in our sins He brought us to life with Christ, so that in Him we might be a new creation.” (Pope Saint Leo the Great) (2)
The only leper who came back to thank Jesus was the Samaritan. Salvation came for all. Are we the marginalized saint, sinner or pagan of our society?
How do we thank God for all He has given us- our faith, graces and our salvation?
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