Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time—Year C

Lectio

   Luke 17:11–19

Meditatio

“… realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice.…”

   In Jesus’ day, having leprosy, a highly contagious disease of the skin, meant virtual exile. Separated from family, shunned by the community, the leper could hope to be reintegrated with society and his or her family only by being healed. So when these ten lepers spot Jesus from a distance, they all call out to him, begging for his merciful and miraculous healing. Jesus complies, healing them physically and restoring them to their families and communities.

   Sin does in an inward way what leprosy does externally. The effects of sin touch not only the person who commits the sin, but also everyone in the community. This raises a barrier separating the sinner from the community. An act of selfishness on our part begets other sins. My sin toward one person can affect how that person will react later. In other words, my sin doesn’t harm only me. It harms the whole community, almost like invisible tentacles clutching at others’ hearts.

   In the Gospel account, Jesus heals all ten victims of leprosy. I am sure that all of them are happy to be healed, but only one returns to give thanks. He recognizes Jesus as the source of his healing and restoration. The Gospel text even suggests that the man approaches Jesus shouting his joyful praise to God. God offers us the same healing and restoration through the sacrament of Reconciliation. In it God tells us, “I forgive you and I want to heal you. Please don’t separate yourself from me—I love you.” The words of absolution are words of restoration and love. As someone reminded me recently, God is not waiting for me so that he can wag his finger at me in disappointment. Whether we receive the sacrament or simply examine our conscience, God opens his arms wide to embrace us and bring us back to communion and community.

Oratio

   With what joy, Lord, I should run to a reconciliatory encounter with you as your pure love washes over me. Afterward I fall to my knees in total, unashamed gratitude for the love you pour out. I pray today for the grace to turn to you in sincerity with all that I have done, both the good and the not so good. May I give them all to you, so as to praise you for the good and receive your forgiveness for what is not so good. Help me to avoid the sins I am most prone to commit again—I want to be wholly yours today and always.

Contemplatio

   “In the shadow of your wings I shout for joy” (Ps 63:8).

__

ORDINARY GRACE Weeks 18–34: Daily Gospel Reflections (By the Daughters of St. Paul)