The story before us today is one of the grateful Samaritan who was able to return and give thanks to Jesus while the other nine melted away. When we reflect on our lives, I am sure all of us have a place and moments in our lives where we have been graced by God, where we have received a great deal as a gift. It is possible, too, that just like the nine who never returned, we too fail to recognize and appreciate the gifts and graces we have received, that the ultimate source is God himself.
Jesus Has a Merciful Heart Toward Us
In those moments when we are faced with desperate situations, we can easily find ourselves petitioning Jesus to have mercy on us. And that was the cry the lepers put to Jesus to have mercy on them and heal them.
The story itself provides us with two points of reflection;
- One, that we have Jesus who cares for those in various crises, the suffering, persecuted, marginalized and most vulnerable.
- Two, a response of gratitude that reflects an internalized faith in Jesus and his power to heal. And this faith-filled response is what distinguishes the Samaritan leper from the rest that never returned. All ten had been equally graced by Jesus with the healing of their incurable disease, but it was only the Samaritan that was able to see beyond the physical healing, appreciate God’s working within his life, then able to return and throw himself at the feet of Jesus, giving glory to God.
For us here it is important to recognize that in all our sufferings, tribulations, when we experience discrimination or we treated as invisible or unloveable because of who we are as individuals or the places where we come from, Jesus clearly notices and loves us and calls us to do the same. Jesus’ mercy on the ten was something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at their disease; His merciful heart moved Jesus to go beyond empathizing with them to removing their suffering completely.
Gratitude for God's Mercy
We, too, must become more aware of God’s care and mercy toward us. He is at work trying to remove all that impedes us from being fully active and faithful to being disciples of his. Jesus gives mercy to all who ask with faith and contrition.
How do we respond to God’s care and love? Do we return ingratitude for the mercy and grace we have received from Jesus?
- If we do not recognize and appreciate the mercy shown to us, we will be ungrateful. One writer noted: “Gratitude is the homage of the heart which responds with graciousness in expressing an act of thanksgiving.”
- The Samaritan returned with gratitude to prostrate before Jesus. The invitation for us too, is to be alert and attentive to how and the ways, God is gracing us. Ingratitude is a poor return for kindness received, and it is the mother of all vices; lack of charity, intolerance towards others, dissatisfaction, pride and presumption.
Let us pray to God to fill our hearts with gratitude and thanksgiving. We must count our blessings with gratefulness and give thanks in all.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fulgens's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)