Luke 17:11-19

Titus 3:1-7

Psalm 23:1b-3a, 3bc-4, 5, 6

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you today for your abundant mercy. I have been healed through your grace. I have returned to your house and I will continue to glorify you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I joyfully sing of your mercies today and give you thanks and praise.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Exodus Journey: Luke indicates that as Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem he traveled eastward between two regions, with the region of Samaria on his right (to the south) and the region of Galilee on his left (to the north). Galilean pilgrims to Jerusalem who took the Jordan Valley route would journey from Scythopolis to Pella in the Decapolis. They crossed the Jordan River, headed south along the eastern side of the river through Perea, crossed back over the river near Jericho, and then began the ascent to Jerusalem. Earlier, at his Transfiguration, Jesus spoke about the exodus he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:321). The crossing of the Jordan evoked the exodus of the people of Israel under Moses. Jesus, accompanied by the crowds going to Jerusalem for the Passover, is the New Moses. He leads a New Exodus and will celebrate a New Passover in Jerusalem. Through his death, resurrection, and ascension, he will open up the way to heavenly glory (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 186).

2. Divine Mercy and Faith-filled Thanksgiving: At the entrance to an unnamed village, ten lepers called out to Jesus and asked for mercy. The cries for mercy directed to Jesus in the Gospel echo the prayers for mercy directed to God in the Psalms. Jesus is the manifestation and incarnation of God’s tender mercy (Luke 1:78). The healing of the lepers and the blind is a sure sign of the advent of the Messiah (Luke 7:22). The miraculous healing of the lepers and especially the Samaritan leper recalls the healing of Naaman the Syrian by Elisha (Luke 4:27) (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 294). Just as Naaman, a foreigner, returned and confessed the true God (2 Kings 5:15), so the Samaritan, a foreigner, returned and gave thanks to God through Jesus. Glorifying God and thanking Jesus for his mercy are now linked together (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 294). The Gospel invites us to imitate the Samaritan’s faith, which moved him to request mercy and healing from God. He was healed not only physically in his body but spiritually in his soul. Having experienced God’s merciful salvation, he was sent out by Jesus to proclaim the great things God had done for him.

3. Exemplary Citizens: We conclude our reading of Paul’s Letter to Titus today. Paul wants the members of the Church in Crete to behave in such a way that the Church will be respectable to outsiders. Titus is to remind the people to be submissive to civil authorities and not rebellious. Instead of being slaves to their passions, the people of God need to be decent and gentle toward all. “Christ saved his people for good works, not for inane controversies or disputations, and Christians’ behavior should show forth the Spirit’s gift of transformation that they received in baptism and their justification (3:1-11)” (Prothro, The Apostle Paul and His Letters, 250).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have washed me clean by having me share in your death and resurrection. I want to live the new life you have given me to the full. I want my faith in you to flourish in works of love, charity, and mercy.

Living the Word of God: Am I a faithful member of the Church and an exemplary citizen? What can I work on so that the Church is respectable to all who encounter her? Is my prayer characterized by humble petition for divine mercy and heartfelt thanksgiving for divine favor?