“When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.” (Lk 17:15)

“When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.” (Lk 17:15)

Today’s Passage: Lk 17:11-19

Meditation: It is quite interesting to watch the instant and innocent reaction of the simple man who was healed among the ten with dreaded skin disease. Earlier, they were asked by Jesus, “Go and let the priests examine you.” (Lk 17:14) However, on the way, all of them were healed. One of the ten, once he found himself cured, “came back praising God in loud voice.” (Lk 17:15) Actually, he had only to go fast with the other nine to the priests and get their confirmation as to his healing, for Jesus hadn’t said to him that they would come back to him.

Nevertheless, we find from the reaction of Jesus that man’s instantaneous response was pleasing to him. He asked him of the others, “There were ten men who were healed; where are the other nine? Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?” (Lk 17:18) On the one hand, it adds surely a compliment to the one returned, on the other hand, I suspect, it contains a reminder for us. Usually we speak of the first part only; the man is highly praised by Jesus. The second part is not so stressed in our sharing.

Of course, it is not a question just like the one God asked to Cain, “Where is your brother?” I would like to suggest that it rightly gives us a mission or reminds us of our mission. We all received graces from God; both material and spiritual. He, who taught us to pray, ‘give us today our daily bread,’ now is waiting for our response. Did we, as a family, community, and group and so on, receive from him the graces we asked for? Those lepers were united in prayer, but divided in thanksgiving. My family prayer and my going to the church or prayer meetings as family have got importance and meaning. God will surely ask me of my other family members, parishioners, friends etc. Am I really aware of this aspect of community prayer and thanksgiving?

     

Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Teach us, how to be grateful in our lives. Give us the courage to make our dear ones understand the meaning of a thanksgiving life as a community in family, parish, institution etc. Send your Holy Spirit upon us so that we may be always united in petitions and thanksgiving; joys and sorrows. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Wednesday…