Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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In today’s Gospel, 10 lepers come to Jesus and ask him for healing. These were 10 desperate men, separated from their families, their communities and the public practice of their faith because of a contagious and debilitating disease. They had heard that Jesus had instantly and miraculously healed others. They hoped that he would do the same for them.
They were disappointed when Jesus told them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” This is what people who were healed of leprosy would do. But Jesus hadn’t healed them, at least not yet. In a way, Jesus was asking them to trust him. He would heal them as they walked to the priests. At the time they didn’t understand that.
You see, only as they made their journey were they healed. What astonishes me is that only one of them realized it.The other nine were too dejected, too disappointed, too angry perhaps, to recognize that as they walked along the way they were being healed. And so the Gospel says, “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.”
Jesus was quick to notice that the other nine had not returned to give thanks to God. He said, “Where are the other nine?”
Sometimes (maybe oftentimes) we fail to realize just how blessed we are. We can be like the nine lepers who were healed along the way, without realizing it.
Do we recognize the ongoing gift of our baptism that has made us the children of God? Do we recognize the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives that allows us to pray? Do we recognize the gifts of air, water, food, faith, family, and friends? Do we recognize that every day we come closer to the Kingdom of Heaven? Do we appreciate the miracle of living?
Instead, we can fall into being people who criticize, grumble and complain, and it is so easy for us to develop the “Woe is me” attitude of the nine who failed to recognize that they had been blessed as they walked along. Why is it that the poor can give thanks to God for the little food that they have, while we who are much wealthier throw away so much food, without even saying, “Bless us O Lord, and these your gifts, which we have received from your bounty?”
Let’s look to St. Paul, who was a man in prison waiting for his martyrdom when he wrote the letter to Timothy, our second reading at Mass this Sunday. St. Paul had faced many trials, tribulations, persecutions and defeats for the sake of the Gospel. He wrote to Timothy, who was just beginning his ministry, saying: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead. . . If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall also reign with him.”
If for no other reason, the hope we have in our own resurrection from the dead is reason enough to give thanks. In fact, we have been healed along the way We will be raised with Jesus. “Remember Jesus.” Thanks be to God!
Have a blessed week everyone.