Gospel

Luke 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

Whenever this is read, people wonder why did the other nine not thank Jesus? It’s because they were like so many of us, that when God enters into our life and does something wonderful for us, we sometimes don't focus so much on who was the source of our healing, our transformation and just go on thinking that we're doing much better.

We're growing, we're changing, we're healing. Nothing is more important than recognizing the ways in which God continues to heal us and draw us into his kingdom by slowly, one miracle after another miracle after another miracle. A transforming love is what God offers us. And when that transformation happens, we often think it's our own doing. We need to focus on the source and give him praise and thanks for who he is.

A God who saves.

Closing Prayer

Father, increase our awareness of your flow of grace that comes to us over and over again. Help us to live in a disposition of gratitude, knowing that as we make progress, as we grow in our fullness or consciousness, as we grow and change, let us give the credit to the one who is the source of all healing, of all transformation. God within us, the Holy Spirit's power filling us. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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