Gratitude as Healing and Transformation!

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Titus 3: 1-7; Lk 17: 11-19

Today’s Gospel invites us to grow into grateful people. 

The text makes a vivid description of the healing of ten lepers in the region of Samaria and Galilee. However, Jesus is disappointed that only one returns to thank him, though all the ten were healed on their way to show themselves to the priests. 

As such, the text invites us to reflect on how sometimes we choose to put on a ‘Gentile’ mindset, though systemic profiling and discrimination of the sort is profoundly sinful and deeply deplorable, as it only reveals an abominable attitude that we are called to shed and detest because we follow Jesus, who willingly crossed boundaries to proclaim an inclusive God’s Kingdom for all. 

Gentile by Region: The text describes that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee, both of which had been predominantly Gentile or had a heavy mix of Gentile inhabitants, respectively. This shows that Jesus voluntarily entered into regions conventionally profiled as ‘Gentile’ and related to people on the margins. Jesus’ boundary crossing exemplified God’s expansive mercy that abhorred any human-made distinction of any sort. 

Gentile by Disease: However, it is in this predominantly Gentile region that Jesus meets with ten lepers, who were made ‘Gentiles’ or ‘untouchables’ on account of their disease. The careful distance they maintained and their loud outcry suggest the social isolation and the denial of social communion they suffered. It is insightful to note that leprosy abolishes the ethnic and religious divisions between Jews and Samaritans and makes them equal in suffering and need.

Gentile by Attitude: While the healing exemplifies Jesus’ mercy and compassion, the nine others, who did not return to thank Jesus despite being healed by him, reveal their ‘Gentile’ attitude, going by the meaning of the term in those days. While the Samaritan shows his goodness through his gratitude, others turn themselves into ‘outcasts’ through their ingratitude. While Jesus’ mercy heals the Samaritan, his gratitude enables him to enjoy the healing from the Lord and to develop a relationship with Him.

Let us pray that we may realize the healing and transformation that gratitude brings. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar