THE MEMORIAL OF ST JOSAPHAT, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
THE MEMORIAL OF ST JOSAPHAT, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
"As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” ( Luke 17: 11 - 19).
Thursday 12th November 2025, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Josaphat. (1580 - 1623). Bishop and Martyr.
Born in Poland, St Josaphat ministered and was martyred in Ukraine.
Josaphat spent his life working for the reconciliation and unity of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church.
He paid the supreme price for this with his life.
Our Gospel of today from (Luke 17: 11 - 19) is perhaps one of the most dramatic healing stories of Jesus.
Healing one leper is dramatic enough, especially if you understand the disease of leprosy and the social taboo it attracts at the time of Jesus.
Today, Jesus heals 10 lepers at once with a single word of command.
Another famous leprosy healing in the Bible is that of Naaman the Leper. (2 Kings 5: 1 - 19).
Naaman's leprosy did not threaten his career. Naaman was a highly valued 4-star General.
Yet he wanted to get rid of the accursed disease by any means.
With the backing of his king, he traveled to Israel in search of healing.
God's merciful Providence smiled upon him and he was healed by the Prophet Elisha.
Read of the gold, silver, expensive garments Naaman brought for thanksgiving.
The Ten Lepers in today's story are in a worse predicament.
Be this as it may, the real essence of the Healing of the Ten Lepers is a lesson on Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Eucharist ein (Thanksgiving).
Are you a thankful person?
Everything you have: family, health, money, job, food, friends, every possession from the smallest to the largest is a gift from God.
How do you render thanks for the gifts you enjoy?
Do you know the source of your gifts?
Do you know that God expects you to render thanks?
"A sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me." (Psalm 50: 23).
This means that God is most delighted if you honor Him with the Sacrifice of the Mass (Eucharist = Thanksgiving).
November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.
“For the souls in purgatory there is great joy as well as pain as they know for certain they are bound for Heaven!” - St. Catherine of Genoa.
For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:
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