WHERE ARE THE NINE…

FEAST OF THANKSGIVING

Sirach 50:22-24

22 And now bless the God of all, who in every way does great things; who exalts our days from birth, and deals with us according to his mercy.23 May he give us gladness of heart, and grant that peace may be in our days in Israel, as in the days of old.24 May he entrust to us his mercy! And let him deliver us in our days!

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,5 that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge–
6 even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you–
7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ;8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Luke 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13 and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.17 Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING tells the story of Simon the temple high priest, who after restoring the temple, put on his robe, went up to the holy altar to make a thanksgiving offering to Yahweh so that the congregation may receive the supernatural gift of peace and mercy. 

St PAUL PREFACE his correspondence noting that he continuesly “give thanks”  to God, meaning that he celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Paul makes the point that this thanks giving act of worship is the mode whereby Christs mercy is dispensed to His people who are present and scattered arround the world. 

St LUKE DESCRIBE the story of ten individuals who desired to be healed from leprosy, an affliction that cuts them off from the community and their loved ones. Foreigners who visited Judah for trade were not obligated to follow the laws, customs and religious prescripts of the Hebrew people. One of the men, a foreigner who received Christs healing, mercy and forgiveness returned to Christ to pay homage and give thanks for being healed and transformed!

Each time we partake in the celebration of the holy eucharist; our venial sins are being forgiven, we are strengthened and renewed during our act of worship, which for all tends and purposes is a joyous thanksgiving celebration for Christs mercies and blessings! Are you and I one of the nine individuals who refuse to attend Holy Mass to honor and worship our Lord? Christ is perturbed and scandalized if you and I wilfully prefer to remain quarantined rather than partake in the Sacrifice of the Holy Eucharistic feast! 

Catec 1345 “As early as the second century we have the witness of St. Justin Martyr for the basic lines of the order of the Eucharistic celebration. They have stayed the same until our own day for all the great liturgical families. St. Justin wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did:On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.”

LET US PRAY: Psalms 138:1-5I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing thy praise;2 I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and thy word.
3 On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of soul thou didst increase.4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, for they have heard the words of thy mouth;5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.