Reflection for November 15, Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:11-19

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

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 voice, 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.”

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Reflection:

A young man who was sent through college by a rich old man went to the old man’s house after he got his degree. He did it to express his gratitude towards his benefactor. When they met the old man said, “I have helped a lot of people but you are the only one who came back to express appreciation. Since, you have a grateful attitude I will give you one of my business take care of it for it’s yours already.” 

Are you grateful to those who have helped you become who you are today? In the gospel we read about the gratefulness of the Samaritan leper who is healed by the Lord. They were actually ten but the nine did not show up to Jesus to express their gratefulness. 

What happens to us when we are grateful? The blessings of God keep coming to us. When we are grateful the more that the giver is motivated to give more to us. Therefore, the stream of blessings continues. 

How can we prove this? For example if we are the giver of the blessing. Would we not unceasingly give to those who express their appreciation? As opposed to those who do not know how to appreciate the things that we do for them? 

Why was Jesus looking for the other nine whom He healed? Perhaps it was not anymore for Him to hear their words of gratitude. But in a deeper sense Jesus was looking for the nine so that He could have an up close and personal encounter with them. And in the process of their encounter He could subsequently bless them again and again and again because an encounter with Jesus is always a blessing. 

Jesus is also always looking for us not anymore to hear words of gratitude from us. He looks for us so that He could continuously bless us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas