Jesus, Master, Have Mercy on Us!

Gospel Reflection for November 15th, 2023

In today’s Gospel, Our Lord encounters ten men who are stricken with leprosy. In the Jewish culture, this meant that they were outcasts and obliged to keep their distance from others in order to not spread their “uncleanliness.” Thus, St. Luke records that they stood at a distance and begged the Lord for mercy:

“And as He entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’” Luke 17:12-13, RSVCE

Upon hearing their plea, Our Lord grants them the healing that they so adamantly sought. How often do we raise our voices to the Lord? How often do we ask for His mercy? Our God is a gracious God, ever ready to forgive and to grant those requests that are within His divine will, whenever we ask in faith and hope. He only desires that we ask.

Just like the ten, Christ desires that we ask of Him what we need. But the lesson to be gained here is not only the need to ask, but after we have received, we must return to Him in thanksgiving.

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks.” Luke 17:15-16, RSVCE

This man, whom St. Luke identifies as a Samaritan, returned to give thanks. So many times, we ask God for what we need but we forget to return to Him, praising Him, and giving thanks. Through the Gospel today, God is reminding us to return to Him and to thank Him for the prayers that have been answered. Let us take a moment today and give thanks to God for the immense gift that we have received in His Son and for other prayers that have been answered.