No doubt, in last Sunday’s Gospel, we noticed the apostles’ request: “Increase our faith”.
It seems that the astonishing trust of the ten lepers in Jesus’ ability to cure them was based only on some reports of the miracles which they must have heard from others. Although their wellness was not restored instantly, their faith in Him was so strong that they obediently followed Jesus’ command to report to a priest.
St. Luke wants us to focus on the lepers’ response to the fundamental change of their life’s status,
after Jesus’ intervention on their behalf. Unfortunately, only the Samaritan thanked him for the miracle.
The earlier cry of the others, “Have mercy on us”, was unfortunately not followed by “Make us grateful for the goodness shown to us”.
It is easy to repeat the mistake of the majority of the ten lepers. God is Love and it might appear to us that it is His duty to shower us constantly with a variety of blessings. The humanity of Jesus yearns for a frequent “thank you” statement. Knowing Him also to be fully God, we express our greatest possible gratitude for opening the gate of the heavenly Jerusalem for us.
While still on our earthly pilgrimage, we should often cry to Jesus: “Increase our gratitude”.
– Fr. Toni Baranowki, SJ
