One Returns...

~~~ Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr ~~~

~~~ Titus 3:1-7 ~~~ Psalm 23 ~~~ Luke 17:11-19 ~~~

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. 

Ten lepers raised their voices calling out to Jesus.
They called out to be noticed...they called out to be healed...
they called out to be released from the prison of their disease.

Jesus sent the lepers away before they were cured.
They obediently left without questioning him.

As they were going they were cleansed. 

I never noticed that detail before...
as they were following his directions...their skin was renewed.
Their life would be forever changed...they could now come out of hiding.
They would now be welcomed back into their families their community.

They must have been overwhelmed with joy.

Ten were cured...ten went home to their loved ones.

One realized he was cured by one person, Jesus.
One realized he had done nothing to deserve to be cleansed.
One stopped long enough to let his gratitude fill his whole being.
One gave his grateful heart a loud voice.
One found it worthwhile to glorify Jesus with his thanks.

One let his body express his heartfelt gratitude.

Why did only one feel their cure was something to be thankful for?
Did the other nine simply return to their life as if
it was just another day?

Were the other nine so excited that returning
 to give thanks did not even cross their mind?

If you want to be grateful identify with the one who returned.
The lepers began their journey of healing together.
They identified with the community of lepers.
They called out to Jesus because they had nothing to loose.
They called out to Jesus because they had everything to gain.
They went together obedient to the command from Jesus.
They were healed as they walked together
to present themselves to the priests.

This is where their community identification ceased...
they each went their own way.

This is when one returned to give thanks and praise
for the miracle of his healing.

If you want to be Blessed
be the one who returns in gratitude.

~~~Peace~~~

Where Are the Other Nine?

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

~~~ Wisdom 6:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 82 ~~~ Luke 17:11-19 ~~~

 

We are given one more important miracle of faith,

 as we come to the close of this year dedicated to faith.

 

 “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Our faith is one of the vital components for miracles of healing.

The ten lepers kept their required distance from Jesus, as they were 'unclean'.

They called out to him,

“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

 

They addressed Jesus as Master, a title of respect.

In Luke the disciples address Jesus as Master seven times.

 

The only one of the ten to return in gratitude is the Samaritan, the outsider.

Luke is noted for including Samaritans in his gospel writings.

Why is it that only one returns to give thanks?

We are too often ready to gripe, complain, and criticize;

but less likely to praise, rejoice, and give thanks.

 

We shy away from giving God credit for the good in our lives,

yet are quick to blame him for the bad.

 

In a few weeks we will be setting aside an entire day precisely to give thanks.

It has to be put on our calendar...too be scheduled.

 

The other nine lepers who were healed went on with their lives.

We are never told that they returned in thanksgiving,

but does that mean they were not thankful? Probably not.

I have written here about giving thanks before and will again in the future

because it is so important.

 

 

Take the opportunity today to consider how your faith inspires you to give thanks.

Perhaps we need to begin with asking, 'does my faith spark any gratitude'?

 

The diseased Samaritan found reason to give thanks for his physical healing,

but he was also giving thanks for a much deeper healing.

Was in fact the cured Samaritan giving thanks to Jesus for his extreme kindness?

The Samaritans were not among the favored people;

they were the outcasts.

 

Even Jesus regularly gave thanks to the Father...

raising his eyes up to heaven.

 

It is fitting that today we celebrate the life of Mother Cabrini.

She dedicated her life to serving and caring for the needs of the stranger...

the immigrants of our time.

In 1946 Frances Cabrini became the first United States

citizen to be canonized.

She left her life as a model for how

we are to care for the poor.

She was inspired in her life of good works

 by what she knew of the life of Jesus.

 

Giving thanks and caring for the poor go hand and hand.

When we recognize what we have

 we should be moved to give thanks and then

 be inspired to care for the poor.

 

Blessings come in returning to give thanks.

God may not need us to thank him,

but we need to give thanks

 for the routine health and maintenance of our soul.