Gospel:
And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; And lifted up their voice, saying:
Jesus, master, have mercy on us.
Whom when he saw, he said:
“Go, shew yourselves to the priests.”
And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.
And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan.
And Jesus answering, said,
“Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger.”
And he said to him:
“Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.”
And now in meditation we consider Father Goddine's questions on the Gospel.
What may be understood by leprosy, in a spiritual sense ?
Sin, particularly impurity, by which the soul of man is stained
much more than is the body by the most horrid leprosy.
In Jewish law three kinds of leprosy are enumerated, that is:
the leprosy of the flesh, of garments, and of houses. Spiritually,
the impure are afflicted with the leprosy of the flesh, who very easily infect others by looks, words, and gestures, and are therefore to be most carefully avoided.
The leprosy of garments consists in extravagance of dress
and scandalous fashions, whereby not only individuals, but also
whole communities are brought to poverty, and many lose innocence. The leprosy of houses, finally, is to be found in those places, where scandalous servants are retained, where nocturnal gatherings of both sexes are encouraged, where obscenities are indulged in, where unbecoming dances and plays are held, and filthy actions are performed. Where married people allow themselves liberties in presence of others, and give scandal
Such houses are to be avoided, since they are infected with the pestilential leprosy of sin ,and woe to them who voluntarily remain in them.
Why did the lepers remain standing afar off?
Because it was thus commanded in the law of Moses, so that no one would be infected by them. From this we learn, that we must carefully avoid scandalous persons and houses; for he who converses with lewd, vain and unchaste persons, will soon become like them.
Why did Christ send the lepers to the priests ?
This He did to show the honor due to the sacerdotal dignity
and the law of God: for it was commanded that the lepers should show themselves to the priests, in order to be declearned clean or unclean by them ; He did it to try the faith, the
confidence, and the obedience of these lepers : for Christ did not wish to heal them upon their mere prayer, but their cure was to cost them something, and they were to merit it by their cooperation. Their purification, therefore, was the reward of their obedience and faith. Further Christ sent these lepers to the priests to show in figure, as it where, that he who wishes to be freed from the leprosy of sin, must contritely approach the priest, sincerely
confess his sins to him.
Why did Christ ask for the others, that were also made clean ?
. To show how much ingratitude displeases Him. Although He silently bore all other injuries, inflicted upon Him, yet He could not permit this ingratitude to pass unresented. So great, therefore, is the vice of ingratitude, hateful alike to God and man !
" Ingratitude," says St. Bernard, "is an enemy of the soul, which destroys the merits, vitiates virtues, impedes graces : it is a heavy wind, which dries up the fountain of goodness, the dew of mercy, and the stream of the grace of God."
"The best means," says St. Chrysostom, "of preserving benefits, is the remem
