First Reading: (Wisdom 6:1–11)
Responsorial Psalm – (Psalm 82)
Response: Arise, O God, judge the earth.
Alleluia
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia.
Gospel: (Luke 17:11–19)
Reflection
The Gospel story of the ten lepers is one we know well, but today let us focus not on the one who returned, but on the courage of all ten who dared to come to Jesus in the first place.
Lepers were outcasts.
They lived away from society, forbidden from entering public places.
If one dared to come near others, he risked being stoned to death.
Yet these ten risked everything, because their hope in Jesus was greater than their fear of rejection or punishment.
They came because they believed only God could heal them.
They came because they hoped, and hope does not disappoint.
Their risk was rewarded: they received healing.
We are called to take that same risk of faith.
To come to Jesus with our pain, our sin, our confusion, even when we are afraid or feel unworthy.
The lepers cried out with persistence:
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
That is the cry of prayer born from hope.
Too often, we give up too quickly.
We stop praying when things get hard.
But the lepers remind us, faith takes courage.
Prayer is an act of hope.
At the end, Jesus said to the grateful leper:
“Go, your faith has saved you.”
This is what He desires for each of us: faith that keeps coming to Him, faith that prays, trusts, and hopes against all odds.
Throughout Scripture, those who prayed in hope were never disappointed.
Hannah prayed for a child, and received Samuel.
Abraham and Sarah hoped in old age, and received Isaac.
When we pray with hope, God never fails us.
Let us, therefore, learn from the ten lepers to dare, to risk, and to come to Jesus with all our problems.
He is our only hope, and hope in Him never disappoints.
Amen 🙏
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