November 14th, 2018

Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
493

FIRST READING
TI 3:1-7

Beloved:
Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities,
to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.
They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate,
exercising all graciousness toward everyone.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded,
slaves to various desires and pleasures,
living in malice and envy,
hateful ourselves and hating one another.

But when the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
he saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

PSALM
PS 23:1B-3A, 3BC-4, 5, 6

Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

GOSPEL
LK 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
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.
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?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."

Daily Reflection
Jesus heals ten lepers, a group of Jews and Samaritans. They believe in Him because they have heard about His compassion and power to heal. But only one Samaritan comes back praising and thanking God. Our Lord delights in our praises. When we take everything we are given for granted, we are like the nine lepers who do not acknowledge the great things Jesus has done for them. We expect acknowledgement for what we do; why can’t we have the same attitude when it comes to God? We must remember to thank God in every situation. "To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us..." (Thomas Merton). As Christians we are also called to be obedient and open to every good enterprise; to avoid idleness and pursue an honest day’s work; to have a peaceful attitude, for it brings about peace within oneself and those around us.

BE OBEDIENT, BE GRATEFUL

If there was ever a secret for unleashing God’s powerful peace in a situation, it’s developing a heart of true thanksgiving – Lysa Terkeurst.