Wednesday of the Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time. Year II (St Martin of Tours). Titus 3:1-7; Luke 17:11-19
Do you have any book that tells the lives of Saints? You probably should get one. I remember reading about St Martin of Tours. Perhaps the most popular story about him is how he gave half of his military cloak to a beggar while he was still a soldier in Amiens. He later had a dream in which the beggar revealed himself to be Jesus Christ Himself. This vision was part of what aided Martin’s transition from being a soldier to a hermit, and then a monk, before being ordained a priest, and later a Bishop.
The song about ten lepers who were unclean and had nowhere to go, till they found Jesus Christ, summarises the gospel reading of today. It’s quite unfortunate that after they were cleansed as snow only one returned to give thanks, and that one was the foreigner among them. Like this one leper, the encounter with Jesus Christ, in the beggar he helped, changed Martin completely for the better.
Friends, sometimes we take God for granted, especially those of us who feel privileged. When last did I sincerely and wholeheartedly thank God for his many graces and blessings in my life? When last did I thank Him for life, for family, for friends and even enemies? Don’t I sometimes prefer to zero in on my worries and refuse to see the hand of God at work even in my challenges? It’s time to make a U-turn. Compassion goes hand in hand with gratitude.
Prayer
Lord, that we may learn to thank you everyday of our lives, with everything you have given us. Amen.
God bless your day ahead. St Martin of Tours, pray for us.
About The Author
