Give Thanks to the Lord!
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· 4 viewsToo often we are like the 9 lepers, presuming on the mercy of Jesus.
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Our Gospel this morning brings us the story of the ten lepers healed by Christ on his way to Jerusalem. They obviously knew who he was — at least by reputation — and cried out to him in their need, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” And out of his mercy and compassion, he did. He healed them of their affliction, sending them to the priests so they could once more become part of Jewish society. He gave them back their life!
But as the ten were heading off to the priests to get cleared, one of them realized the enormity of the gift he had been given by Christ. Out of the ten who were healed, only one came back to praise and glorify Jesus for the miraculous gift of mercy he had been granted. And he was a foreigner, a non-believer, an infidel in the eyes of the Jewish people. The so-called believers? They continued on their way — no doubt excited and elated that they too had been healed, but without any acknowledgement or recognition of the one who had healed them.
There’s a message here for each of us. We too are lepers, at least spiritually — brought low by our sin and iniquity. Mesmerized and concentrating on the things of this world, we become overwhelmed in the trials, the minutia of our daily lives. All too often we overlook or lose focus on the great gift of mercy we are given. Like the lepers, we too were lost, brought low by our imperfection. Yet Jesus answered our call for help through his Eucharistic Sacrifice, healing us of our sinfulness, our imperfection, our leprosy. And he continues to do so each and every time we call out to him.
We hear Christ ask, “Were not ten healed? Where are the other nine?” All too often, we are like the nine so-called “people of God.” We accept and take for granted the great gift of salvation Jesus gives us, and go about our merry way without looking back. And yet - Christ has set us free — restored us to LIFE by his sacrifice. Not because we earned it or deserve it, but out of mercy and love. We need to recognize our own leprosy AND the Savior’s healing gift to us. And like that tenth leper, to turn back to Christ with unending praise, thanksgiving, and gratitude.