13 November 2019
Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Ten lepers are cleansed; one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks to God. Nine are healed in their flesh; only one is made clean of heart, and Jesus says in the Beatitudes “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God,” (Matthew 5:8).
These ten men were dying a slow and terrible death and Jesus, who came that we might have abundant life (John 10:10), gave them new life simply because they asked for pity: notice they did not ask to be healed. They merely wanted some compassion, because in the Jewish culture lepers were treated with the utmost isolation and fear. These ten were likely friends simply because they had no one else in the world, and passing by comes Jesus, the rabbi they had heard about, who is known for His compassion: they wanted just a drop of kindness.
Instead, He unleashes a flood. All ten are washed but only one man notes the source of his healing, and is moved by it: his heart is carried on the current of mercy, and so he comes to Jesus, falling at His feet in gratitude and, truly, worship. Yesterday we reflected on the reality of the Christian life—that of serving God in gratitude for all He has done, rather than in anticipation of what we will receive—and today we see exactly that: a man—a foreigner!—responding in gratitude for what God has done in his life. Imagine if each of us were so moved with each experience of Confession, when we beg Jesus for pity and He removes the leprosy from our souls! Imagine if we all had such faith as this leper, that we might hear Jesus say in our hearts “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
This Samaritan saw God. His heart was pure, and witnessing the healing of his flesh he experienced an entirely new life: life in Christ. Let us daily consider all God has done for us, and hope to be so moved, to live anew in the light of His love each day!