Put to the Test

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted–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 6:5-8

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?  Luke 17:15-17

Piety

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Study

This passage from Luke will always be a favorite since it was the Gospel reading at the closing Mass for the Men’s 104^th Cursillo on October 14, 2001 at Holy Spirit Parish.  I was one of (coincidentally) ten freshly minted babe chicks sitting there in my Sunday best when Deacon Jack Ligon looked out in his homily and saw us as 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, it was the Samaritan who rose above the petty national differences like his good countryman who assisted the man mugged, robbed and left for dead in a ditch. 

Action

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