We must be grateful for all that God has given to us especially the gift of His grace.
The lepers were helpless for their situation placed them as outcasts of the community. They were unable to do anything for themself that would bring forth healing except to beg their situation to God. They thus cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Of the ten who came to be healed only one returned into order to show gratitude for such a wondrous gift.
Like the lepers we are unable to be saved by our own merit. We needed Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross as well as the continued assistance of God’s grace in order to complete such a task. By accepting such a gift we must remember to be filled with such gratitude for what we have received.
There are some who unknowingly go about this life as if they are able to save themselves. They act as if no matter how they choose to order their life that they will be saved. Rather, we must realize our dependence upon God and the need for His mercy. In such a state we are able to cry out “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
Through such an act of faith these words lead us towards true repentance. With a contrite heart we come before God confessing our sins and receiving the grace of the sacrament of confession as we are absolved from these sins. We should be thankful for such a gift for without it we would be unable to be healed from those serious sins that have cut us off from the gift of God’s grace.
The ultimate proclamation of such thanksgiving is the Eucharist itself. The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” Thus through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we are not passive recipients, but active in our role of giving back to Him who has given all things unto us. Through the Mass we are able to enter into His sacrifice and give thanks to God for this gift through our worship.
In coming to commune with the Lord in Holy Communion we invite Him to enter in under our roof. Through such a reception we are strengthened to enter into the world not living as an enemy of Christ, but as one who has been sent forth to bring Christ out into the world. In such manner the leper was commanded, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
This command did not send him back into the world unchanged, but as one that had been changed by God’s healing power. Let us continue to call out to the infinite mercy of God and intrust ourselves to the gift of His grace. In doing so we must always remember to give thanks for all that God has done for us.
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
