The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today's Gospel reading (Saint Luke 17: 11-9) shows us the Ten Lepers who sought a cure from Jesus, but only one (a Samaritan) returned to give thanks to God.

Gratitude to God is essential for everyone. It is our pride and vanity that stand in the way of our bringing forth appreciation and gratitude for all that we have. Our possessions and accomplishments, no matter how hard we have labored for them or how much we have sacrificed for them, are ultimately gifts from God. It is God Who has given us life; He has given us time or opportunity; He has given us health or strength; Etc. It is God Who has made everything and has given us everything.

Only one out of the ten lepers heard the consoling words of Jesus Christ: "Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole." They were all healed of their bodily disease but only one received the health of his soul as well. The Samaritan was cured in both body and soul. This singular grace that the Samaritan obtained from God was made possible because of his unwavering faith, which he expressed clearly in his gratitude to God. This faith, as demonstrated by the Samaritan, is a beacon of hope for all of us, showing that true healing is not just physical, but also spiritual, and it is within our reach through our faith and gratitude to God.

God is so accessible and generous in His gifts to us that we quickly grow complacent in our gratitude and love. We assume that God will continue to grace us with life, health, freedom, etc. when we clearly observe others who are deficient in one or more of these blessings that we so easily take for granted. It is as if we believe that God owes all these things to us or that we deserve them. Many an old timer tells us that the ungrateful child deserves a good swat on the bottom. Yet, how many "old timers" or "grown-ups" are just as guilty, if not more guilty, of ingratitude to God?! Yet if God gives them the slightest physical correction, they turn away from Him. In truth, they should thank God for the punishment or correction.

The crosses that God sends us are sent by Our Loving Father in Heaven. He knows what is best and gives us what is best for us. Sometimes, we need a cross to amend for our sins, offer a pleasing sacrifice to God, and express our love for Him and our neighbors. Sometimes, to save our souls, our bodies must bear some pain.

We must refrain from comparing ourselves to others. God gives each what they need. It may be that we need a burden that others do not need, that others cannot handle the burden that God gives us, or that we cannot handle the blessings others have received. Far from thinking that God loves those who have less to suffer than those who He makes suffer more, we should thank Him for the pleasure and pain He gives us and others. God's fairness in distributing burdens is a testament to His understanding of our individual needs.

Some may argue that the lepers had suffered enough already and that their cure was not a gift from God but rather what He owed them in justice for all they had suffered. We commonly focus all our attention on ourselves — especially when we are in pain. The best remedy for our pain is often doing something for others. When we think of others, we can at least set aside or mitigate our pain for a little while. Love makes sacrifice or suffering not only bearable or tolerable but pleasant.

When we embrace our cross for the love of God, He promises to make it light, sweet, and joyful. Our physical leprosy, disease, handicap, injury, etc., should not be considered curses from God but rather wonderful opportunities. As we embrace each difficulty for the love of God, we will find that the difficulty lessens, even if it is not entirely taken away. As we experience even the slightest relief from our crosses, we should return to God like the Samaritan and show gratitude, appreciation, and love for God. This promise of God to make our crosses light and joyful is a source of comfort and hope, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles.

In obeying God by embracing our crosses for the love of Him and giving ourselves in some manner to the service of our neighbor out of love for him, the bitterness and weight of our crosses are lessened or mitigated. We may find partial, if not complete, relief of our physical pain. At this moment, we need to recall the lesson of the Samaritan in today's Gospel reading and return to give thanks to God. With this love, praise, and gratitude to God, we find, like the Samaritan, true healing for our souls as well.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!

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