GOSPEL READING:
Luke 17:11-1911 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 14 When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Meditation: What can adversity teach us about the
blessing of thanksgiving and the healing power of love and mercy?
The Book of Proverbs states: A friend loves at all times; and
a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17). When
adversity strikes you find out who truly is your brother, sister,
and friend. The Gospel records an unusual encounter between two
peoples who had been divided for centuries. The Jews and
Samaritans had no dealings with one another even though Samaria
was located in the central part of Judaea. Both peoples were
openly hostile whenever their paths crossed. In this Gospel
narrative we see one rare exception - a Samaritan leper in company
with nine Jewish lepers. Sometimes adversity forces people to drop
their barriers or to forget their prejudices. When this band of
Jewish and Samaritan lepers saw Jesus they made a bold request.
They didn't ask for healing, but instead asked for mercy.
Mercy is heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune
The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart".
But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow
at another's misery and misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the
sufferer. But mercy goes further - it removes suffering. A
merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if
it were his or her own. And such a person will do everything in
his or her power to dispel that misery.
Mercy is also connected with justice. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274),
a great teacher and scripture scholar, said that mercy "does
not destroy justice, but is a certain kind of fulfillment of
justice. ..Mercy without justice is the mother of dissolution;
(and) justice without mercy is cruelty." Mercy.."moves us to do
what we can do to help the other." Mercy seeks to remedy
the weakness of others, and where sin is involved to lead others
to recognize their need for repentance and turning away from
wrongdoing. Pardon without repentance negates justice.
God's mercy brings healing of mind, heart, and body
So what is the significance of these ten lepers asking Jesus to
show them mercy? They know they are in need of healing, not just
physical, but spiritual healing as well. They approach Jesus with
faith and with sorrow for their sins because they believe that he
can release the burden of their guilt and suffering and restore
both soul and body. Their request for mercy is both a plea for
pardon and release from suffering. Jesus gives mercy to all who
ask with faith and contrition (true sorrow for sin).
Why did only one leper out of ten return to show gratitude?
Gratefulness, a word which expresses gratitude of heart and a
thankful disposition, is related to grace - which means the
release of loveliness. Gratitude is the homage of the heart
which responds with graciousness in expressing an act of
thanksgiving. The Samaritan approached Jesus reverently and gave
praise to God.
Ingratitude leads to lack of love and kindness, and
intolerance towards others
If we do not recognize and appreciate the mercy and help shown to
us, we will be ungrateful and unkind towards others. Ingratitude
is forgetfulness or a poor return for kindness received.
Ingratitude easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance
towards others, as well as to other vices, such as complaining,
grumbling, discontentment, pride, and presumption. How often have
we been ungrateful to our parents, pastors, teachers, and
neighbors? Do you express gratitude to God for his abundant help
and mercy towards you and are you gracious, kind, and merciful
towards your neighbor in their time of need and support?
Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize your loving kindness and mercy. Fill my heart with compassion and thanksgiving, and free me from ingratitude and discontentment. Help me to count my blessings with a grateful heart and to give thanks in all circumstances.
Psalm 82:3-4,6-8
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
6 I say, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, you shall die like men, and fall like any prince."
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to you belong all the nations!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Cleansing of the ten lepers, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"Why did [Jesus] not say, 'I will, be cleansed,' as he did in the
case of another leper (Luke 5:13), instead of commanding them to
show themselves to the priests? It was because the law gave
directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy
(Leviticus 14:2). It commanded them to show themselves to the
priests and to offer a sacrifice for their cleansing. He commanded
them to go as being already healed so that they might bear witness
to the priests, the rulers of the Jews and always envious of his
glory. They testified that wonderfully and beyond their hope, they
had been delivered from their misfortune by Christ's willing that
they should be healed. He did not heal them first but sent them to
the priests, because the priests knew the marks of leprosy and of
its healing." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE,
HOMILIES 113-16)
