Luke17; 11-19 Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?

Sharing Guidelines
*Sharing is not a time for teaching or debate; it is a time to sense the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit who leads the gathering.
*Reflection sharing is not meant to teach others but to share the meaning you personally have discovered. Therefore, do not criticize or debate another person’s sharing. Avoid boasting of your own understanding or knowledge.
*Respect the grace of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the meaning of the Word while dwelling among us, and listen attentively to others’ sharing, holding it in your heart.
*Keep confidential any personal reflections or stories shared in the group; practicing brotherly love means not passing along private matters outside the meeting.
*When speaking, always use the first person singular (“I”). Be careful not to distance or generalize your story by using the third person (“he,” “they”) or the first person plural (“we”).
*Keep it short.

Gospel Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Today’s Reflection

“As they went, they were healed.” This is the story of the healing of the ten lepers. The miracle of their healing is described very simply. Ten lepers asked Jesus for mercy. For them, Jesus was their only hope, the only one who could free them from their illness. And they were healed just as they wished.

But the story doesn’t end there. Only one of them came back to thank Jesus. His gratitude might seem natural, but because of it, he received salvation. Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you.”

Today’s Gospel talks about healing and salvation. Being healed from a disease that seemed impossible to cure is amazing, but that does not automatically lead to salvation. Between the healing of the lepers and their salvation, there is an important factor: thankfulness. People ask the Lord for many things, but not all prayers and requests are answered. Still, we often experience, directly or indirectly, that God answers our prayers. We are encouraged to trust that God will provide what is truly necessary and good for us.

At the same time, we often notice that we are quick to ask but slow to be thankful. It is very exciting and joyful when our requests are answered. But if we stop there and do not go further, we cannot fully experience God’s mercy and love. It is necessary to praise God and give thanks. Mercy and gratitude are connected. (Rev. Heo Kyu)

Sharing Questions:

1. Let’s talk about any words or sentences that touched your heart, or think about the Gospel from different points of view

    – From the Samaritan’s point of view

    – From the perspective of those who did not return

    – From Jesus’ point of view

2. Do I believe that God answers my prayers? Talk about how God has responded to your requests, and then think about how you have lived your faith in response.

3.  Have I ever fully experienced God’s mercy and love, or have I stopped too soon without going further? How can I receive God’s love more fully, and what efforts do I need to make to grow closer to Him?

4. Make a decision: Based on today’s Gospel, how should I live my life?