St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Wisdom of Solomon 6: 1-11

Listen, O kings, and understand; rulers of the most distant lands, take warning.

Pay attention, you who rule multitudes and boast of the numerous subjects in your pagan nations! For authority was given you by the Lord, kingship is from the Most High who will examine your works and scrutinize your intention.

If, as officials of his kingdom, you have not judged justly or observed his law or walked the way God pointed out, he will oppose you swiftly and terribly; his sentences strikes the mighty suddenly.

For the lowly there may be excuses and pardon, but the great will be severely punished. For the Lord of all makes no distinction, nor does he take account of greatness. Both great and lowly are his work and he watches over all, but the powerful are to be judged more strictly.

It is to you then, sovereigns, that I speak, that you may learn Wisdom and not stumble. For those who keep the holy laws in a holy way will be acknowledged holy, and those who accept the teaching will find in it their defense. Welcome my words, desire them and they will instruct you.

 

Ps  82 Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 17: 11-19

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, and as he entered a village, ten lepers came to meet him. Keeping their distance, they called to him,” Jesus, Master, have pity onus!” Jesus said to them, “Go, and show yourselves to the priests.”

Then, as they went on their way, they found they were cured. One of them, as soon as he saw that he was cleansed, turned back, praising God in a loud voice; and throwing himself on his face before Jesus, he gave him thanks. This man was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus asked him, “Were not all ten healed? Where are the other nine? Did none of them decide to return and give praise to God, but this foreigner?” and Jesus said to him, “Stand up and go your way; your faith has saved you.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

“DID NONE OF THEM DECIDE TO RETURN AND GIVE PRAISE TO GOD, BUT THIS FOREIGNER?”

According to one story, a priest passionately delivered a sermon on gratitude. He told the congregation in attendance that it is necessary to develop a habit of thanking God for everything in life. He used a passage from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (5:18): in all circumstance, give thanks.

He wanted to show an example during the offertory, so he waited for the collection bag to reach him. To his surprise, the bag contained none. Not one dropped a coin into the collection. By this time, all eyes were on him and he found himself in a dilemma.

But then an inspiration came. He looked up and said, “Lord, thank you, we still have the bag!” From a practical perspective, the gospel story shows to us God’s goodness and the tendency of many of us to overlook it.

The challenge of course to all of us is not to forget God. We may have many problems in life but there are still many things to thank God for. We are still blessed and God still deserves our gratitude. We should not only recognize the gift, we should thank the giver.