First reading Wisdom 6:1-11
Kings, your power is a gift to you from the Lord
Listen, kings, and understand;
rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
hear this, you who have thousands under your rule,
who boast of your hordes of subjects.
For power is a gift to you from the Lord,
sovereignty is from the Most High;
he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.
If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly
nor observed the law,
nor behaved as God would have you behave,
he will fall on you swiftly and terribly.
Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty;
the lowly will be compassionately pardoned,
the mighty will be mightily punished.
For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage,
he does not stand in awe of greatness,
since he himself has made small and great
and provides for all alike;
but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.
Yes, despots, my words are for you,
that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress;
for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy,
and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.
Look forward, therefore, to my words;
yearn for them, and they will instruct you.
Responsorial Psalm 81(82):3-4,6-7
Arise, O God, to judge the earth.
Do justice for the weak and the orphan,
defend the afflicted and the needy.
Rescue the weak and the poor;
set them free from the hand of the wicked.
I have said to you: “You are gods
and all of you, sons of the Most High.”
And yet, you shall die like men,
you shall fall like any of the princes.’
Gospel Luke 17:11-19
No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
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A humble heart is a grateful heart
“…one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to Him to give thanks. As we prayerfully read the passage, let it speak to us about never forgetting that all that we have and all that we are is a gift of God, and thus, we are invited to live in a constant and daily attitude of wonderment and gratitude.
Wonderment and gratitude start with a humble heart, i.e. a heart that recognises God’s presence in our lives. Today, let us ask for humility to see God and His works in our lives. It is a temptation to dwell on all the bad things that happen to us that cause us to forget the good things God has given us. Today, let us ask for a humble heart that wonders and be grateful for the many gifts we have received from Him. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 107)
Reflective question:
Is my heart humble enough to always be grateful for God and His gifts?
Is my heart humble enough to always be grateful for God and His gifts?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
