Mercy, Forgiveness, And Giving Thanks

 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, ¹³ they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” ¹⁴ When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. ¹⁵ Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. ¹⁶ He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? ¹⁸ Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”-Luke 17:11-19 NRSV

We All Have Been Shown Mercy

In the Gospel reading from today’s Mass we read about ten lepers being healed.  Leprosy is a horrible disease, but it could have been any skin ailment.  To have a skin ailment one would be rendered unclean and would be ostracized from the rest of society.

This was done to keep the disease from spreading, but it was hard on those with the ailment.  They were cut off from the community.  That didn’t only mean their family, but the religious life of the Temple and Synagogue.  The lepers see the Lord and cry out for mercy.  Jesus has pity and tells them to go to the priests.  In those times the priest had to verify that the individual was clean.  If they were then they would be readmitted to the community.

We are the lepers.  We all need mercy.  Jesus heals us from the leprosy of sin.

Forgiveness And Giving Thanks

In the sacrament of reconciliation we are are forgiven of our sin.  The priest absolves us, and in the case of mortal sin, we are readmitted to the community.  We are readmitted so that we may partake at the table of the eucharist.

The story in today’s Gospel tells us that there were ten lepers who were healed, but only one returned to Jesus to give thanks.  Are we one of the nine?  In other words is the mercy of God something that we take for granted?  There are many ways in which we can do this.  However, when was the last time we told Jesus two simple words.

Thank you.

Those two words are powerful.  They remind us of the mercy that we have been given.  Those words help us remember the mercy shown to us so we can try to avoid sin in the future.  It is also a reminder of the mercy that we should show to others.

Take some time today and pray.  Tell Jesus thank you for his forgiveness and mercy.  It is something we do not deserve but he does it anyway because he loves us.  Give thanks with a grateful heart.  Rejoice and give thanks for this free gift.

Saint Quotes

For there are three ways of performing an act of mercy: the merciful word, by forgiving and by comforting; secondly, if you can offer no word, then pray – that too is mercy; and thirdly, deeds of mercy. And when the Last Day comes, we shall be judged from this, and on this basis we shall receive the eternal verdict.-St Faustina

Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us?-Saint Vincent de Paul

The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.-St. Gianna Molla