SUNDAY REFLECTIONS | 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Social Communications Ministry
Published on October 12, 2025
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.”
In today’s Gospel, we witness a moment of both healing and revelation. Ten lepers cry out to Jesus from a distance, pleading for mercy. They are people cut off from their homes, their families, and their communities—living symbols of suffering and exclusion. Yet Jesus sees them, hears them, and commands them to go to the priests. As they obey, they are cleansed. It is a miracle of compassion and power.
But what follows reveals something deeper. Only one of the ten returns to give thanks—and that one is a Samaritan, an outsider. Jesus’ question echoes with sadness and wonder: “Where are the other nine?” It’s not that Jesus needs gratitude for Himself, but that gratitude is what keeps the heart close to God. The one who returned recognized not only the healing, but the Healer. His gratitude became an act of faith.
This Gospel invites us to reflect on the difference between being healed and being saved. All ten were healed physically, but only one was made whole spiritually—because only one returned in thanksgiving. Gratitude opens our hearts to grace. It transforms what we receive into a relationship of love. The Samaritan teaches us that true faith is not just in asking for blessings, but in recognizing them, returning to God, and giving thanks.
How often do we resemble the nine who did not return? We pray fervently when we are in need, but once things improve, we forget to thank God. We move on quickly, taking His gifts for granted. Gratitude keeps our hearts humble and aware—it turns moments of blessing into moments of worship.
Today’s Gospel challenges us to become people of thanksgiving. To notice God’s hand in our daily lives—in every answered prayer, in every act of kindness, in every breath of peace. Gratitude is not a feeling we wait for; it’s a choice we make. When we choose to thank God in all things, even in trials, we discover a joy that goes beyond circumstance.
Let us ask ourselves: Am I more focused on what I want from God than on what He has already given me? Do I take time each day to thank Him—for life, for love, for grace? Have I recognized His presence in the blessings that surround me?
