Today, the Lord tells us the story of the ten lepers. At that time, leprosy meant rejection, indifference, and being among the last and forgotten by society. These men had already heard about Jesus, and so they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have mercy on us!”

Jesus gives them a very clear instruction: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” The ten lepers obey his word and set out on their way. Along the journey, through this act of obedience, they are healed.

However, among the ten, only one returns. He is a Samaritan, someone considered less familiar with the law and God’s commandments. He returns joyfully, glorifying God and falling at the feet of Jesus to thank him. Jesus praises his attitude. The other nine, who were Jewish, do not return.

Let us pause and reflect on what the Lord is saying to each of us through this Word today.

The Lord speaks to us about a merciful God, one who always hears our prayers and is attentive to our circumstances, our sufferings, and our joys.

What he asks of us is to be obedient to him, to listen to his Word, and to follow him. Following Jesus is the true healing: the healing of our thoughts, our words, our emotional wounds, our personal history, and our relationship with God.

All ten lepers experienced physical healing, but the Samaritan returned and encountered something deeper. The Samaritan understood that the greatest gift was not simply what he had received, but the Lord himself. The nine received their healing, but the Samaritan returned to the Healer. This is the invitation of today’s Gospel: not to seek only what God can give us, but to seek the Lord himself.

Today, the Lord also invites us to recognize how much he gives us. When we look at our lives, we discover so many reasons to give thanks. Everything comes from the loving and merciful hands of God.