(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).
COLLECT: “STIR UP IN YOUR CHURCH, WE PRAY, O LORD, THE SPIRIT THAT FILLED SAINT JOSEPHAT AS HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP, SO THAT THROUGH HIS INTERCESSION WE, TOO, MAY BE STRENGTHENED BY THE SAME SPIRIT AND NOT BE AFRAID TO LAY DOWN OUR LIFE FOR OTHERS. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Wis 6:1-11; Ps 33:2-3,16-19; Lk 17:11-19.
St. Josaphat was born in Ukraine as an Orthodox. He became a Catholic and then a Monk, and later became a Priest of the Order of Saint Basil. He became the Archbishop of Poloz. He was a zealous Bishop and worked for Christian unity, trying to reunite the Greek and Latin Churches.
He was assassinated by enemies in 1623. St. Josaphat was probably touched and inspired by St. James’ words: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without good works is dead” (James 2:26). That was the way he lived his life. Very good lesson for us, especially for all believers.
There is a Dagaare adage that, “Ka foo wa kpiire nie kanga kuu, O meng biere fo baalong” (Lit. “When you are dying because of someone, the person should also be sick because of you”). The morale is that, when someone is sacrificing all he or she can for me, I also need to appreciate that and cooperate with the person for him or her to do more for me. God is the ultimate source of graces and our gifts.
His finest gifts for us are our life, our good health, and our ability to think and act creatively. All of us, every day, experience God’s unbounded merciful love and generosity. What do we do in return for that, to show that we appreciate all he has been doing for us?
Very often, we take things for granted, and we sometimes do not remember to show gratitude. Remember, gratitude is better than pride, “For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested” (Wis 6:6).
Today’s readings inform us that all authority is rooted in the wisdom of God (Cf. first reading), who defends the lowly and the afflicted (Cf. Ps 82:3ff). The gratuitous love of Jesus Christ is met with gratitude and praise by the leper (Cf. the Gospel). Yes, today’s Gospel shows the disappointment of Jesus when only one of the ten lepers returns to show appreciation for the mercy, love and kindness shown to them by Jesus. Where are the other nine cured lepers? It does not dawn on them to express gratitude to the one who granted them what they have been dying for.
There is a saying that, ‘the one who does not show or express gratitude for a favour done him or her, is a fool and does not think’. Could this be applied to the other nine cured lepers who do not come back to thank Jesus?
What makes this Samaritan cured leper special and distinguished from the other nine cured lepers is the fact that he does not take God for granted as the ultimate source of graces, life, good health, etc. Do I sometimes behave similarly to God and fellow human beings when I receive a favour from them?
God is often pleased with us, and he will show us more of his mercy, love and generosity if we express gratitude to him. The best gratitude we can express to God is to be faithful to our Christian calling and live our Christian values and virtues, the Gospel values. Our first allegiance is to Jesus as Lord.
Allegiance to Jesus implies being faithful to him, living and putting into practice the Word of God, and always obeying God’s Commandments. There is no better gratitude to God than this. With good reason, the Book of Wisdom, the portion we meditate on today, warns and at the same time urges us to value and use our gifts and talents.
This could also be another way of showing gratitude to God. May we always recognise God at work in the graces that bless us all through life. May we always give God grateful praises. May Saint Josephat intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Josephat.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “MAY THIS HEAVENLY TABLE, O LORD, BESTOW ON US A SPIRIT OF FORTITUDE AND PEACE, SO THAT, FOLLOWING SAINT JOSEPHAT’S EXAMPLE, WE MAY WILLINGLY SPEND OUR LIVES WORKING FOR THE HONOUR AND UNITY OF THE CHURCH. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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