FIRST READING
“We ourselves were once led astray, but when the loving kindness of God appeared, he saved us.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (Titus 3:1-7)
Beloved: Remind everyone to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy towards all men. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another; but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6 (R. 1)
R/. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me;
he revives my soul. R.
He guides me along the right path,
for the sake of his name.
Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
no evil would I fear, for you are with me.
Your crook and your staff will give me comfort. R.
You have prepared a table before me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing. R.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for length of days unending. R.
ALLELUIA I Thessalonians 5:18
Alleluia. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
A reading front the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17:11-19)
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 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, leave mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 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. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The qualities of good Christian living are enumerated in the first reading: Obedience, openness, peaceable, considerate, gracious to all, not to be slanderous, not to be slaves to various desires and pleasures, not living in malice and envy and not hating one another. The gospel reading of today teaches the virtues of faith and gratitude. The faith of the lepers healed them. It shows that Jesus has power over every form of disease and that his words are efficacious. Ten lepers were healed but only one of them returned to give thanks to Jesus. The only one that returned was a Samaritan. The Samaritans were not regarded well by the Jews. We should not look down on any tribe or race. We should be thankful to God and others for the good we receive every moment.