Cleansed

Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends. Wisdom 6:6-8

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. Luke 17:12-14

Piety

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Study

This passage from Luke will always be among my favorite readings from Sacred Scripture because it was the Gospel reading at the closing Mass for the Men’s 104^th Cursillo on October 14, 2001 at Holy Spirit Parish, Annandale, VA.  Ten freshly minted “babe chicks” sat in the first pew wearing their Sunday best when Deacon Jack Ligon looked out in his homily and saw the coincidence of the ten lepers.

Jesus’ mercy on us began the prior Thursday evening when we showed up at the curbside of Missionhurst and entered the darkness of the “quiet” night.  Jesus was there at the driveway to meet us just as he met the ten lepers while crossing the border of Samaria and Galilee. 

After the healing took place, only one returned to give thanks.  The one who returned was not one of the Jewish lepers (who Luke implies should have better understood the healing that took place).  Instead, the returning healed leper was again a Samaritan who rose above the petty tribal differences like his good countryman who assisted the man mugged, robbed and left for dead in a ditch and the woman who encountered Jesus at the well of living water. 

Action

Do we get it?  No matter if your Cursillo weekend was one month ago with the M135 or seventeen years ago, does the message of the weekend still resonate with you?  We are “put to the test” daily.  Are you getting a passing grade?  Or do you need extra credit?  A Bible study class?  A meeting of your group reunion?  A private tutor?

How well are you living the Christian life in your practices of piety, study and action?  How are you growing in love of God and in love of your neighbor?  How are you growing in gratitude and generosity?