Today we have the classic parable that most of us have been familiar with since our Primary school days. We hear how the ten lepers come to Jesus and ask him to cure them. He takes pity on their plight but rather oddly requests that they are to go and show themselves to the priests. As they are going away, we hear how they were cleansed.

Very quickly, their miraculous cure becomes evident to each of them. One man, who was a Samaritan – turns back and he thanks Jesus, who declares immediately that the man’s faith has saved him.

We are all so good at ‘Prayer of Petition’. The sort of prayer we turn to God with when we are faced with bad news, bereavement, illness etc. But just like the other nine who were cured in today’s story we are not so good for going back to God to give thanks. Often we get discouraged when we feel that our prayer is not being answered the way we wanted or in the time frame we hoped for. Sometimes its months or years later that we realise God did answer my prayer but in a way that was better for all involved in the end.

Are we part of the grateful minority? Perhaps in the week ahead we may turn to the Lord in prayer and give due thanks for all he has done for us.  We need to be able to surrender and trust in his plan.

Fr. Gerry