My Dear Brethren,
In the story of the Ten Lepers, not all of them are of the same race and nationality. In the story, one of them is a Samaritan, and he is the only one that returns to Christ in gratitude. Christ raises the question: where are the other nine. Were they not healed? Certainly, this is a story about the value of gratitude to God who is revealed in time through His own beloved son, Jesus Christ.
Although the nationality of the other nine is uncertain, there is a bond between them because of their condition. The background is that there is much enmity between Jews and Samaritans. Despite their differences, these particular 10 lepers were isolated from their community because of the horrendous disease. Notice that they had to stand at a distance of Christ and calling out to him: "Have mercy on us".
How interesting that despite their unfortunate condition, it resulted in a greater good. The greater good is the tearing down of racial barriers and prejudice.
We seek mercy and healing from Christ. But the greater healing takes place when any kind of prejudice and discrimination is removed from the heart. Notice that the indiscriminate Christ heals all 10 lepers. He didn't pick and choose which one to heal because of their background of social status, or because they were a Jew or Samaritan. He healed all 10, but surprisingly only the Samaritan return to give thanks to God.
During his public ministry, The Lord ventures through the Temple and Jewish Synagogues and also through foreign territories where he encounters tax collectors and sinners. How blessed for humanity that Christ has no prejudice in his Sacred Heart.
Seeking his mercy by praying: "Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison" is to be done by allowing Christ to ransom us from fear and hatred in the heart. It is so that we embrace a new identity as beloved people of God. That ransom was purchased by his blood being poured out from the holy cross. Amen.
