Gospel: Lk 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, and as he entered a village, ten lepers came to meet him. Keeping their distance, they called to him, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!“ Jesus said to them, “Go, and show yourselves to the priests.“ Then, as they went on their way, they found they were cured. One of them, as soon as he saw that he was cleansed, turned back, praising God in a loud voice; and throwing himself on his face before Jesus, he gave him thanks. This man was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus asked him, “Were not all ten healed? Where are the other nine? Did none of them decide to return and give praise to God, but this foreigner?“ And Jesus said to him, “Stand up and go your way; your faith has saved you.“REFLECTION:
How can we not be grateful to God? The Jubilee of Mercy deepened so much my gratitude to God. I almost cannot fathom the depth of God‘s love, which is mercy itself. What moves me so much are the words of St. Paul to the Romans; “It is difficult to die for a righteous person… Someone might dare to die for a good person. God had shown how much He loves us–it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us.. and we were put right with God“ (Rom. 5:6-8). This is how deep God‘s love is! No one who realizes this truth, can be ungrateful. The consequence of sin is death. Because of sin death came (Cf. Rom. 5:12 ff.) We have sinned so many times yet we are alive and sustained by God. God asks nothing but gratitude. “Were not all ten healed?‘ “Where are the other nine?“ Jesus misses our grateful heart. Can we not count our blessings and return to Him and say Thank you?
‘In everything give thanks.“