One of our traits as Filipinos is our gratitude. We show gratitude to our parents, to those who helped and continue to help us, to those who guide us in our daily life on how to be good Christians, good Filipinos.

In the Gospel this Sunday, we hear of the time Jesus encountered 10 lepers who were cast out of their community, forced to wander in the wilderness as prescribed by the Law of Moses.

According to the Law, the lepers were unclean and they could not return to their community until their leprosy had been cured. The definition of leprosy then may differ from what we know as leprosy today, as it covered a rather broad variety of skin diseases and infections.

But at the time the lepers came to seek the Lord and His miraculous healing even from a distance, Jesus did not keep Himself away from them despite knowing that they could make Him and His disciples unclean; but He approached them and showed them His mercy and love.

He told them all to go and see a priest as prescribed by the Law, even though they had not been physically healed of their leprosy. Yet, they chose to have faith in the Lord and trust Him, even when He did not perform grand gestures and miracles before them, going forth on their journey to the priest as they were told.

They showed obedience and faith and, as a result, they were all healed of their leprosy, realizing afterwards they had been made whole again. Yet, none of them except for one, a Samaritan, went back to the Lord to thank Him for what He had done for them. This showed the Samaritan’s great character and virtue, not only that he had obedience and faith in him, but he was grateful for the Lord’s goodness.

The Gospel reminds each and every one of us that we have been given such great gifts and opportunities by the Lord, Who has always been very compassionate, patient and kind towards us. He has shown us ever more His loving concern and His desire to heal us of all our troubles and faults.

That is why we should really appreciate what the Lord has done for us with such great love, persistence and patience, and not take it all for granted. As much as possible we should not allow ourselves to remain distant and separated from Him. It is we who will regret having disobeyed Him and refused to listen to the things He is teaching us.

To my fellow consecrated persons, always bear in mind that whatever we endure and encounter throughout our ministry and works, all of it is done as missionaries of Christ for the greater glory of God.