Monday Message, November 8, 2021

Author Image

KNOW

I know that several local governments have changed their COVID requirements. Young children who are not yet vaccinated should still wear masks for faith formation – and so should catechists.

Please check the online directory for any errors. Send corrections to institute@diobpt.org.

Advent calendars are ready for pick up. The Catholic Center is open M-F 8:30 to 4:30.

Confirmation formation workshop is this weekend. If you know of an adult Catholic who lacks only Confirmation, please encourage them to sign up.

Please see this Families Network Nurturing Fathers Flyer for a great opportunities to dads.

REFLECT

The author of Luke’s Gospel has Jesus’ healing ten lepers this week. It’s a story that always causes such consternation. Ten were healed but only one returned to say “thank you.”

It is good to give thanks.

But to concentrate on the one who returned is to miss the point. Maybe the other nine had good reasons.

Maybe one was a mother who had been kept away from her children for so long by this disease that turns you into an outcast. She was healed and she rushed right home and returned to her family.

Maybe one didn’t believe he had been cured because he didn’t do anything to deserve it. He couldn’t face unconditional love – healing without a price – so he couldn’t see he was healed and just went back to the colony.

Another was really, really excited about being free from the ravages of his illness and in his excitement, he just forgot.

Maybe another was alone, having already lost his family and now the only family he knew – the other lepers – were gone too. He was cured but now he was alone. He wasn’t grateful, he was ticked.

I could go on but you get the point.

Ten were healed and only one said “thank you.”

To concentrate on the one is to miss the point. Then again, I sometimes think we’ve institutionalized missing the point.

Ten were healed.

Ten were healed.

Ten cried out for mercy. Ten longed to be near Jesus so they just shouted as loud as they could. And Jesus, never one to leave someone wanting, responded simply, “Go, show yourselves to the priest” (the priest being the only one who could verify that they had in fact be healed).

They asked for Jesus’ mercy and received so much more.

Ten were healed. One said thank you.

It is good to say thank you.

But something tells me it is better to be healed.

LAUGH