Feel free to listen to this heavenly version of “Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” as you read through today’s homily notes. That’s what I’m doing. (Thanks for the song rec, Mariela!)
There are two lessons that can be taken from today’s Gospel reading. The first is this – we see that Christ doesn’t heal the lepers right away, but upon their request, gives them a command. The lepers show humility, and only upon their obedience are they healed. God wishes for our obedience and humility, even if we do not understand.
The other lesson is the important of gratitude. The person who keeps asking for favours, but never shows thanks, soon wears out his welcome. This is also true with God. When the one leper returned, we see that Jesus appreciated the gratitude of the Samaritan, and felt the ingratitude of the others keenly. Some commentators think that the leper left the schism of Samaritanism and became a Jew. Once the apostles started to preach the Gospel, he became a Christian and began to help spreading the Faith due to his gratitude of the favour Jesus had shown him. The other lepers were received back into society, but did not receive the spiritual graces the other did.
In a way, when we spread the knowledge of the Kingdom, God becomes indebted to us. He promises great happiness in Heaven for the little we do here on earth.
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