Gospel Reflection Oct 9 – Deacon Frank
Sunday, October 9
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 17: 11-19
Gospel:
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 voices, 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.”
Gospel Reflection:
When you go to Mass this weekend, all the readings reflect on the free gift of grace that is offered to those who seek and acknowledge the goodness of the Lord.
In this week’s Gospel, we once again see what gratitude and humility looks like, realizing that not everyone is humble enough to express their gratitude for blessings received. When the 10 lepers are healed, only one returns to thank Jesus, and the one is a foreigner, a Samaritan. There is no love lost between the Jews and the Samaritans. But this Samaritan knows beyond a doubt that he has received a precious gift, and he returns to express his undying gratitude for having been healed even though the healing was received at the hand of a Jew … Our Lord, Jesus.
All that God asks of us is to acknowledge his love, his forgiveness, and his faithfulness, to humbly bear witness to the generosity of God’s love. God simply wants us to return to the place where we first met him with hearts filled with gratitude and love.
The next time that someone does something kind for you…for sample, remembers your birthday, or blesses you in a particular way, try not to text or message them. Stop and take the time to express your gratitude in writing a card, note or call them on the phone.
The next time that God blesses you, return to the throne of grace, kneel before the Lord, your God, and simply say “thank you.” Never forget that gratitude is the greatest of all gifts, a gift that keeps on giving without measure.
Deacon Frank Iannarino