"And one of [the lepers], realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him." Praise is our grateful response for the goodness of God.

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' The Lord replied, 'If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." When we surrender ourselves to Christ, he meets every need and we are free to serve.

"When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham." Since the very origins of Christianity, the Gospel has uniquely found a home with the poor and the marginalized.

"You cannot serve both God and mammon." Today's readings challenge us to act more compassionately on behalf of the poor by placing God above the values of the world.

"Let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life again; he was lost and has been found." The father's mercy to his wayward son reveals the joy of God's love for us.

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Following Jesus means being formed into the pattern of his death, as Saint Paul says. Taking up the cross of Christ also means that we will know his resurrection.

"When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." A heart transformed by the love of Christ extends that love to all for the very sake of love.

"I have come to gather nations of every language. . . They shall proclaim my glory." Today's readings teach us about the universality of God's kingdom.

"Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus." The author of the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us on our Christian journey.

"From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name." We stand as the newest in a long line of generations who rejoice in the work of salvation that God has done through a simple young girl who said "Yes" to God's will for her.