11 NOVEMBER 2026 – SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER

🌿 SUNDAY REFLECTION: THE CLEANSING OF THE TEN LEPERS (LUKE 17:11–19) 🌿 As Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem, ten lepers called out from a distance, pleading for mercy. Jesus told them to go

WEDNESDAY, THIRTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of St Martin of Tours

Tit 3: 1-7; Ps 23: 1-6; Lk 17: 11-19

FROM DISTANCE TO CLOSENESS

Our whole spiritual life is a journey towards union with God. The Gospel of today, in a nutshell captures this journey. We have the ten lepers who meet Jesus, but stand at a distance, away from Him. They are aware of their sickness, the social stigma and the feeling of being outcasts. But they are even more aware that Jesus has the power to heal them. And so, they cry out to Him for mercy. We may not be physically infected by leprosy, but each of us has some spiritual leprous wound which disfigures the image and likeness of God in us, makes us spiritually numb and gradually disintegrate. The Old Testament is replete with examples of such lepers whose physical condition was but an expression of spiritual malaise. We have Miriam (Num 12:1-10) who developed a certain subtle envy, resentment and rebellion against her brother Moses’ spiritual leadership. Namaan (2 Kgs 5: 1-15) was guilty of pride, while Gehazi the servant of Prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 5: 20-27) was an avaricious man. King Uzziah was arrogant and defiant to the Lord (2 Chron: 16-19).

Like the ten lepers, sin distances us from God. But there is an opportunity to grow closer. God’s mercy is always available and we do desire it. However, the motivation for seeking this mercy varies. Nine of the lepers who received healing went their own way. They are like the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal son who seek gifts to enjoy with their friends (Lk 15: 29b) and do not care for a relationship with the giver of the gift. The Samaritan however, returned to thank Jesus thereby receiving not just physical healing but spiritual wholeness and closeness with Jesus. Both these tendencies are present within us. We plead for some blessings and favours and do indeed receive them. We thank God sometimes but also often take God for granted. The gifts do not lead us to deeper intimacy with God. Gratitude opens our hearts to wholeness and intimacy. May we deepen this attitude of wholehearted gratitude.

Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

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