The lepers were outcasts, suffering not only from physical illness but also from social and spiritual isolation, unable to be where others gathered and prayed, including the synagogue. They were considered less than others, avoided by all. When they cried out, “Jesus, Master! Have mercy on us!” they were not simply asking for healing, they were begging to be seen, to be restored, to be included again in human society. And Jesus responds, compassionately telling them to go show themselves to the priests. As they went, they were miraculously cleansed. Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one – a Samaritan, a double-outcast, as it were – returns. All ten received the same gift of healing, but only the Samaritan turned back, “glorifying God in a loud voice” and falling at Jesus’ feet to thank Him.
The Samaritan’s gratitude has little to do with good manners. It is the response of faith, and the foundation of humility. The grateful leper recognizes the source of his healing and acknowledges not only the gift but the Giver. Jesus sees this and says, “your faith has saved you.” The Greek word used here, “sozo,” means more than physical healing; it signifies wholeness, salvation. The Samaritan’s gratitude opened within him the capacity for a true relationship with Jesus.
As Catholics, we are called to live lives of Eucharistic gratitude. In fact, the word “Eucharist” itself means “thanksgiving.” At every Mass, we are invited to remember what God has done for us, not just in general, but personally. Like the Samaritan, we are called to return, to give thanks, to worship, and in doing so, to be made whole as we are drawn into a deeper relationship with Christ.
We each receive many, many blessings from the Lord: salvation, family, forgiveness, daily provision, the many graces we recognize and those we have not yet been able to see, the things we are spared, the strength to persevere through difficulties, etc. But very often, we forget to take time to give thanks; we rush forward in life, healed perhaps, blessed for certain, but not fully transformed. Gratitude roots us in humility and opens our hearts to God’s grace more fully. It reminds us that we are not self-sufficient, but recipients of everything we have and are.
Let us ask for the grace of true gratitude and humility, so that we never take our many blessings for granted. And then may we, like the grateful leper, return each day to the feet of Christ with hearts full of praise and thanksgiving.
Los leprosos eran marginados, padecían no solo enfermedades físicas, sino también aislamiento social y espiritual, incapaces de estar donde otros se reunían para orar, incluida la sinagoga. Eran considerados inferiores, evitados por todos. Cuando clamaban: “¡Jesús, Maestro, ten compasión de nosotros!”, no solo pedían sanación, sino que suplicaban ser vistos, ser restaurados, ser incluidos de nuevo en la sociedad. Y Jesús responde, diciéndoles con compasión que se presenten a los sacerdotes. Al ir, quedaron milagrosamente limpiados. Jesús sana a diez leprosos, pero sólo uno – un samaritano, un doble marginado, por así decirlo – regresa. Los diez recibieron el mismo don de sanación, pero sólo el samaritano regresó, “alabando a Dios en voz alta” y postrándose a los pies de Jesús para darle las gracias.
La gratitud del samaritano tiene poco que ver con las buenas costumbres. Es la respuesta de la fe y el fundamento de la humildad. El leproso agradecido reconoce la fuente de su sanación y reconoce no sólo el don, sino también al Dador. Jesús lo ve y dice: “Tu fe te ha salvado”. La palabra griega usada aquí, “sozo”, significa más que sanación física; significa plenitud, salvación. La gratitud del samaritano despertó en él la capacidad de una verdadera relación con Jesús.
Como católicos, estamos llamados a vivir vidas de gratitud eucarística. De hecho, la palabra “Eucaristía” significa “acción de gracias”. En cada misa, se nos invita a recordar lo que Dios ha hecho por nosotros, no solo en general, sino personalmente. Como el samaritano, estamos llamados a volver para dar gracias y adorarlo para ser íntegros al ser llamados a una relación más profunda con Cristo.
Cada uno de nosotros recibe muchísimas bendiciones del Señor: la salvación, la familia, el perdón, la provisión diaria, las muchas gracias que reconocemos y las que aún no hemos podido ver, las cosas que se nos ahorran, la fuerza para perseverar en las dificultades, etc. Pero muy a menudo, nos olvidamos de tomarnos un tiempo para dar las gracias; avanzamos con paso firme en la vida, quizás sanados, bendecidos con certeza, pero no completamente transformados. La gratitud nos arraiga en la humildad y abre nuestros corazones a la gracia de Dios más plenamente. Nos recuerda que no somos autosuficientes, sino receptores de todo lo que tenemos y somos.
Pidamos la gracia de la verdadera gratitud y humildad, para que nunca demos por sentado las muchas bendiciones que hemos recibido. Y entonces, como el leproso agradecido, regresemos cada día a los pies de Cristo con corazones llenos de alabanza y acción de gracias.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: MART PRODUCTION, pexels.com/photo/man-person-people-woman-7220102/
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