What a great first reading today from Titus 3. St. Paul reminds us that we are saved “through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” An obvious reference to our baptism. In the Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus heals ten lepers.
Of the ten healed, only one bothered to come back and give thanks to Jesus. To add insult to injury, the only one to return and give thanks was a Samaritan. Ouch! So, the percentage of those healed who came back was exactly ten percent. Hmm…does that number sound familiar? Oh, it is a tithe. And the tithe was to be not from the “bottom of the barrel.” It was to be from the very best of the harvest. So, the very best was a Samaritan? Double ouch for the Jews! Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to do a poll to see what percentage of people today are genuinely grateful to God for their blessings. I mean grateful enough to return to give Him thanks like the leper in the Gospel today. Would you be surprised if that number was ten percent? Regardless of what the actual number is, let us make sure that we are ALWAYS a Ten Percenter, one of the ones who ALWAYS returns to give thanks to God for His many blessings.
Father, we thank you for your graces and blessings and healings in our lives. Help us to ALWAYS be grateful to you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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