Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time ©
Luke 17, 11-19
José Antonio Pagola
Belief without gratitude
The
story begins by narrating the cure of a group of ten lepers on the
outskirts of Samaria. But this time Luke does not stop at the details of
the healing, but in the reaction of one of the lepers on finding
himself cured. The evangelist carefully describes all the steps, for he
wants to shake up the routine faith of not a few Christians.
Jesus
has asked the lepers to present themselves to the priests to obtain the
authorization that will allow them to rejoin society. But one of
them, a Samaritan by birth, on seeing that he was cured, instead of
going to the priests, returns to find Jesus. He feels a new life has
begun for him. Everything will be different in future: he will be able
to live a more dignified and happy life. He knows to whom he owes his
new found dignity. He needs to meet Jesus.
He
returns “praising God in a loud voice.” He knows that the saving power
of Jesus can only have its source in God. Now he feels something new
for that Good Father of whom Jesus speaks. He will never forget him. He
will in future live giving thanks to God. He will praise him with all
his might. Everyone must know that he feels loved by him.
On
meeting Jesus, he throws himself at his feet giving him thanks. His
companions have gone on their way to meet the priests, but he knows that
Jesus is his only savior. So he is here at his side thanking him. He
has found the best gift from God in Jesus.
At
the conclusion of the story, Jesus speaks to ask three questions to
express his surprise at what happened. They are not addressed to the
Samaritan at his feet. They contain the message Luke wants heard in
Christian communities.
“Were
not the ten made clean?” Were not all cured? Why do they not recognize
what they have received from Jesus? “The other nine, where are they?”
Why aren’t they there? Why are there so many Christians who live
without almost ever giving thanks to God? Why do they not feel specially
grateful to Jesus? Do they not know him? Does he mean nothing new to
them?
“Has
no one except this foreigner returned to give glory to God?” Why have
people who feel a real admiration for and gratitude to Jesus given up
religious practice, while some Christians feel nothing special towards
him? Benedict XVI mentioned a few years ago that an agnostic who seeks
God may be nearer him than a Christian of routine faith who carries on
because of tradition and inherited practice. A faith that does not
produce joy and gratitude in believers is a sick faith.
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