Leaders and Lepers

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer lifestyle instructions to those in the assembly of Christians and remind those inside of the Grace which brought them from being foreign to experience of Love in Jesus. The Letter to Titus encourages the audience, in the words of Friar Jude Winkler, to be good citizens. The author of the letter reminds them of their previous slavery to desires and pleasures which has been replaced by freedom through the free gift of the Holy Spirit. The saint commemorated today, John Kunsevich (who took the name Josaphat in religious life), worked in the 16th century to restore the union of the Ruthenians with Catholicism. The moral state of some Ruthenian Church leaders had experienced serious decline and reunion with Rome was seen as a way to heal lifestyle practices which were discrediting the Church. The Gospel from Luke is described by Larry Gillick, S.J. as a proclamation from Luke of Jesus gentleness, kindness and attention to the outsider in His healing. Father Larry and Friar Jude recommend the thanksgiving offered by the Samaritan outsider as a daily practice for those inside Christianity. The Psalm today (Psalm 23) is 6 lines which can begin our daily recall of how we have been led and fed by the Lord as our Shepherd. In this thanksgiving, we are opened to the other and anxious for all to know the Love for which we give thanks