32nd Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 13th November 2019 — Gospel: Lk 17,11-19
Distances of Mercy and Gratefulness
Having witnessed his own healing, Jesus asks three rhetorical questions, emphasizing the absence of the other nine healed in contrast to “this foreigner”. He is really making a cutting observation about the nine who have missed their opportunity to enter into deep relationship with him. However, the Samaritan alone enters into a relationship with Jesus by responding in a personal way to God’s grace. He demonstrates a genuine faith that saves him. He gives praise to God and prostrates himself at Jesus’ feet in gratitude. Indeed, his closeness to Jesus contrasts with the distance he observed when asking Jesus for mercy. Thus his gesture of gratefulness becomes a model to build intimacy not only with Jesus, but to everyone to whom we manifest in our daily life.
