Gospel – Luke 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 voices, 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.”

Reflection on Sunday Gospel

Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God…

Ten were healed, yet only one showed gratitude!

When I was seven years old, my grandmother told me that I should always do things for others, even though they may not say “thank you”.  Naturally, I was confused.  Then she explained that if we help ten people, we get ten stars for the good deeds.  If even just one of those people shows gratitude, it makes all of the stars you have will shine brighter!

Now as an adult hearing Luke’s Gospel account, I become not only sentimental for my grandmother’s story, but validated as a teacher!  The leper who returned to Jesus was a Samaritan, a member of a foreign group that was not very well liked. He alone, thanked Jesus and told everyone he met of how his life was changed. He was testament to the power of faith. Isn’t it true that the one student who returns after graduation is the one who everyone remembers as “the difficult one”! It is this “leper” that brings with him gratitude for all that was done for him in the time he was served by a Lasallian community! This one of the hundreds we served is the one who helps our Lasallian star shine brightly.  It is he who recognizes and tells everyone that we changed his life! It is he who is a testament to what we do as Lasallians!

We give time, spend money, and share our experiences and knowledge and sometimes for seemingly nothing in return.  Jesus knows this feeling; after all, he suffered death in return for his teaching! Keep giving, do not be discouraged. The very fact that you have answered this call to teach is a good indication of your living your life for others.

May God’s providence keep our Lasallian star shining brightly!

St. John Baptist de La Salle … Pray for Us!
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever!

Ms. Christine Schmidt
St. Raymond High School for Boys – Bronx, NY