Daily Readings - Wed Nov 13 2024
Titus
1Admonish them to be subordinate to the rulers and authorities, to obey their dictates, to be prepared for every good work2to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men3For, in times past, we ourselves were also unwise, unbelieving, erring, servants of various desires and pleasures, acting with malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another4But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared5And he saved us, not by works of justice that we had done, but, in accord with his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit6whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior7so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
Luke
11And it happened that, while he was traveling to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee12And as he was entering a certain town, ten leprous men met him, and they stood at a distance13And they lifted up their voice, saying, "Jesus, Teacher, take pity on us.14And when he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And it happened that, as they were going, they were cleansed15And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, returned, magnifying God with a loud voice16And he fell face down before his feet, giving thanks. And this one was a Samaritan17And in response, Jesus said: "Were not ten made clean? And so where are the nine18Was no one found who would return and give glory to God, except this foreigner?19And he said to him: "Rise up, go forth. For your faith has saved you.
Sermon
**Readings:**
First Reading: Titus 3:1-7
Second Reading: Luke 17:11-19
**Sermon:**
In today's readings, we are reminded of the transformative power of God's mercy and the importance of gratitude. The First Reading from Titus encourages believers to live virtuous lives, obeying authorities and doing good works, not because we earn salvation through these actions, but because we are called to reflect God's mercy. We were once lost in sin, but through the Holy Spirit, we are regenerated and justified by God's grace.
The Gospel from Luke presents a vivid scene where Jesus heals ten lepers. While all are healed, only one, a Samaritan, returns to thank Jesus. This narrative underscores the theme of gratitude and the appropriate response to God's mercy. The Samaritan's actions highlight the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry and serve as a reminder that true faith is accompanied by thanksgiving.
These readings invite us to reflect on our response to God's mercy. Like the Samaritan, we are called to live with gratitude, recognizing the blessings we receive. Gratitude transforms our hearts, fostering a deeper relationship with God and inspiring us to live virtuous lives. Let us not forget to thank God for His mercy, allowing it to shape our actions and attitudes, just as the Samaritan's gratitude led him to glorify God.