"Nagluhod sia sa tiilan ni Jesus kag nagpasalamat sa iya"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 17:11-19)

Miyerkules (Nobyembre 13)

Sang nagapakadto si Jesus sa Jerusalem nag-agi sia sa dulonan sang Samaria kag Galilea.

Sang nagapasulod sia sa isa ka baryo ginsugata sia sang napulo ka mga aruon. Ang mga aruon nagtindog sa unhan kag nagsinggit, "Jesus nga manunodlo, kaluoyi kami!"

Nakita sila ni Jesus kag nagsiling sia sa ila, "Lakat kamo kag ipatan-aw ang inyo kaugalingon sa mga pari." Sang nagalakat sila nag-ayo sila.

Ang isa sa ila, sang matalupangdan niya nga nag-ayo na sia, nagbalik nga nagadayaw sa Dios sa mabaskog nga tingog. 

Nagluhod sia sa tiilan ni Jesus kag nagpasalamat sa iya. Yadto nga tawo taga-Samaria.

Si Jesus nagsiling, "Indi bala napulo ka tawo ang gintinluan? Karon diin na ang siyam?

Ngaa ining dumoluong lang ang nagbalik sa pagpasalamat sa Dios?"

Si Jesus nagsiling sa tawo, "Tindog ka kag maglakat. Ang imo pagtuo nag-ayo sa imo." 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize your loving kindness and mercy. Fill my heart with compassion and thanksgiving, and free me from ingratitude and discontentment. Help me to count my blessings with a gratefull heart and to give thanks in all circumstances."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

What can adversity teach us about the blessing of thanksgiving and the healing power of love and mercy? The Book of Proverbs states: A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17). When adversity strikes you find out who truly is your brother, sister, and friend. The gospel records an unusual encounter between two peoples who had been divided for centuries. The Jews and Samaritans had no dealings with one another even though Samaria was located in the central part of Judaea. Both peoples were openly hostile whenever their paths crossed. In this gospel narrative we see one rare exception – a Samaritan leper in company with nine Jewish lepers. Sometimes adversity forces people to drop their barriers or to forget their prejudices. When this band of Jewish and Samaritan lepers saw Jesus they made a bold request. They didn't ask for healing, but instead asked for mercy.

The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further – it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were his or her own. And such a person will do everything in his or her power to dispel that misery. Mercy is also connected with justice. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), a great teacher and scripture scholar, said that mercy "does not destroy justice, but is a certain kind of fulfillment of justice. ..Mercy without justice is the mother of dissolution; (and) justice without mercy is cruelty." Pardon without repentance negates justice. So what is the significance of these ten lepers asking for mercy? They know they are in need of healing, not just physical, but spiritual healing as well. They approach Jesus with contrition and faith because they believe that he can release the burden of guilt and suffering and make restoration of body and soul possible. Their request for mercy is both a plea for pardon and release from suffering. Jesus gives mercy to all who ask with faith and contrition.

Why did only one leper out of ten return to show gratitude? Gratefulness, another word which expresses gratitude of heart and a thankful disposition, is related to grace – which means the release of loveliness. Gratitude is the homage of the heart which responds with graciousness in expressing an act of thanksgiving. The Samaritan approached Jesus reverently and gave praise to God. If we do not recognize and appreciate the mercy and help shown to us we will be ungrateful and unkind towards others. Ingratitude is forgetfulness or a poor return for kindness received. Ingratitude easily leads to lack of charity and intolerance towards others, as well as to other vices, such as complaining, grumbling, discontentment, pride, and presumption. How often have we been ungrateful to our parents, pastors, teachers, and neighbors? Do you express gratitude to God for his abundant help and mercy towards you and are you gracious, kind, and merciful towards your neighbor in their time of need and support?