GRATITUDE

November 10, Wednesday

Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

 

 

      The Jewish kings were God’s representatives to the people by virtue of their anointing. Now comes the author of the book of Wisdom and says that also pagan rulers have received their authority from God. They must exercise it wisely for doing good, in accordance with God’s law, because they have to give an account to God.

      In the account of the cure of the ten lepers, Luke stresses the contrast between the nine Jews who, after their cure, go to comply with the rules of the law, but forget about gratitude, and the Samaritan who returns to thank Jesus. We too, often forget to be grateful for gifts received. Maybe it is a bit humiliating to be reminded of our dependence on others… Let us not forget that God’s love comes to us usually through people who care and help. For all the good done to us, particularly through Jesus Christ, we give thanks in this Eucharist, this thanksgiving.

 

First Reading: Wisdom 6:1-11

In conclusion, young Solomons and Alexanders of the world, open your good ear and listen to what I have to say! Those who manage the affairs of the world, hear this! If you’re responsible for the fate of millions, if you pride yourselves on your principalities, then lend me your ear!

Such power as you may have really isn’t yours—it’s the Lord’s, given to you as a gift; your domination comes from the Most High. He keeps a check on your ways and means; he oversees your principles and practices. You may be administrators of your kingdoms, but you’ve been caught cooking the books! God is going one way, but you’re going in the opposite direction.

It won’t be pretty, but it will be sudden—God’s breaking down the door and calling you to account! Life without parole—that’s the sentence for executives at the top of the heap. Mercy is conceded, but only to the down and out; those at the top will be subjected to rigorous investigation. God will not stand down before any of them, nor will he be distracted by a f lash of finery. Obviously, he’s the one who made the great and small, providing the necessities of life for every single person. But for the top of the heap he’ll make a forensic examination of each and every act.

My words are directed to you, Solomons and Alexanders of the world. Put wisdom first; it will cut your mistakes in half. Those who manage to the best of their ability will be rewarded justly; those who teach justice will mount a successful defense of their stewardship. In conclusion, keep my words in a warm spot; take them to heart—that’s where they’ll do you the most good.

 

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

 

Prayer

Lord God,
from you comes all we are and have;
we owe you above all forgiveness and life
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
We pray you today for grateful hearts.
Make us thankful for the right things,
not merely for being lucky in life
nor for the happiness of the self-satisfied
but for the joy that in him
even suffering and death have meaning.
Accept all our thanks through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

There is nothing called “salvation of one’s own soul.”

In the time of Jesus, four categories of people were treated as dead: the poor, the leper, the blind, and the childless. The lepers could not approach the public, as they were considered impure, like the cemeteries. All diseases were considered a punishment for sins but leprosy was the symbol of sin itself. The Jews believed that God used it to strike persons who were envious, arrogant, thieves, responsible for murders, making false oaths, and incestuous. The healing of leprosy was a miracle equal to the resurrection of a dead person. The lepers felt rejected by all: by people and by God.

The gospel presents to us the story of 10 lepers. Nine of them are Jews and one, a Samaritan. Leprosy has put together Jews and Samaritans, united persons who, while in good health, despise, hate, and fight each other. The awareness of common disgrace and suffering gathered them in friendship and solidarity! And this is exactly what happens in the spiritual field: if I consider myself just and perfect, inevitably I raise the barriers and fences for self-protection from “lepers.” When I realise that I myself am a leper, I will not feel superior, will not judge, not distance myself, but I will be in solidarity in good and in bad with the brothers and sisters

The ten lepers do not consider themselves as individuals. Instead, they move together in search of Jesus. Their common prayer is: “Jesus, Teacher, you who understand our condition, have mercy on us.” God’s mercy and salvation can be obtained only in communion with one’s brothers and sisters. There is nothing called “salvation of one’s own soul.” In paradise, no one, not even God, will be happy until the last human being is liberated from “leprosy” which puts them far away from the Lord and from the brothers/sisters.

The number ten in the Bible has a symbolic value: it indicates the totality (the hands have ten fingers). The lepers of the Gospel represent therefore all the people, the entire humanity far away from God. All of us—Luke wants to tell us—are lepers and we need to encounter Jesus. No one is pure; we all carry on our skins signs of death that only the word of Christ can cure.

God has not created two worlds: one for the good ones and the other for the wicked ones but a unique world wherein he calls all his children to live together, all sinners are saved by his love.

Video available on Youtube: There is nothing called “salvation of one’s own soul.”