{"id":6003,"date":"2025-10-11T08:40:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T07:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=6003"},"modified":"2025-10-16T14:58:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T13:58:15","slug":"commentary-on-28th-sunday-of-the-year-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-28th-sunday-of-the-year-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 28th Sunday of the year C 12.10.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT: LUKE 17:11\u201319
<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ten lepers<\/strong><\/p>\n

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama\u2019ria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices and said, \u201cJesus, Master, have mercy on us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 instruction<\/strong><\/p>\n

14 When he saw them he said to them, \u201cGo and show yourselves to the priests.\u201d And as they went they were cleansed.<\/em><\/p>\n

One cured returns<\/strong><\/p>\n

15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus\u2019 feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 response<\/strong><\/p>\n

17 Then said Jesus, \u201cWere not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?\u201d 19 And he said to him, \u201cRise and go your way; your faith has made you well [has saved you].\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama\u2019ria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices and said, \u201cJesus, Master, have mercy on us.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama\u2019ria and Galilee<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke continues to emphasise that Jesus is heading for Jerusalem and certain crucifixion. On the journey Jesus highlights the qualities and virtues he expects from his followers who travel that journey with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Leprosy was not only Hansen\u2019s Disease but any contagious skin infection. Lepers were not allowed mix with other people and had to keep a distance from them. The book of Leviticus instructed: \u201cThe person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be dishevelled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, \u2018Unclean, unclean.\u2019 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.<\/em>\u201d (Lv. 13: 45\u201346). The book of Numbers added: \u201cThe Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Command the Israelites to put out of the camp everyone who is leprous<\/em>\u201d (Nm. 5: 1\u20132).<\/p>\n

\u201cand lifted up their voices and said, \u2018Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 \u201cJesus<\/em>\u201d is addressed by his name only five times in Luke\u2019s Gospel: twice by devils (Lk. 4: 34; 8: 28), by the blind man at Jericho (Lk. 18: 38, 39), once here and once by the \u2018Good Thief\u2019 on the cross (Lk. 23: 43).<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is the only occasion when someone not a disciple calls Jesus by the title \u201cMaster<\/em>\u201d. They used his name \u201cJesus<\/em>\u201d so they knew him or perhaps some persons present told them his name.<\/p>\n

\u201chave mercy on us.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 They asked for \u201cmercy<\/em>\u201d which would indicate that they knew he could help them. He did not respond by going to them and healing them by touch, his normal method of working miracles. He tested their faith by giving them an instruction.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

14 When he saw them he said to them, \u201cGo and show yourselves to the priests.\u201d And as they went they were cleansed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he saw them he said to them, \u2018Go and show yourselves to the priests<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus tested their faith in him. He did not tell them that they were cured but told them to go to the priests who would declare that they were healed. They went without a further word. They believed in him.<\/p>\n

Jesus complies with the Jewish Law which was that the priest was to go outside the camp, examine the diseased person and declare if he had been cured. Then he would perform a ceremony of ritual cleansing over the cured person (Lv. 14: 1\u201324).<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as they went they were cleansed<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The ten were cured on their way to the priest. The Samaritan may have been going to the Jewish priest with the others.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus\u2019 feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThen one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus\u2019 feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan<\/em>\u201d \u2014 In Luke\u2019s Gospel the normal response to a miracle was \u201cpraising God with a loud voice<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 5: 25\u201326; 7: 16; 13: 13; 18: 43). This man attributes his cure to divine intervention.<\/p>\n

\u201che fell on his face at Jesus\u2019 feet<\/em>\u201d means that he prostrated himself in humility recognising that Jesus was God\u2019s agent in working the cure.<\/p>\n

\u201cgiving him thanks<\/em>\u201d is a phrase that is new in the series of actions mentioned here.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow he was a Samaritan<\/em>\u201d \u2014 As the Samaritans were spurned by the Jews it is surprising to find one mentioned here as the hero of the episode. Jesus wanted to show that he had come to bring healing and salvation to all people.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

17 Then said Jesus, \u201cWere not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?\u201d 19 And he said to him, \u201cRise and go your way; your faith has made you well <\/em><\/strong>[has saved you].\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThen said Jesus, \u2018Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?\u2019 And he said to him, \u2018Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well <\/em>[has saved you]\u2019\u201d \u2014 The Samaritan, the foreigner, the outcast of the Jewish religion, is the one whom Jesus praises for his faith which is the reason for his cure.<\/p>\n

\u201cyour faith has made you well <\/em>[has saved you]\u2019\u201d \u2014 The literal translation is \u201cyour faith has saved you<\/em>\u201d. Not only was the man cured but he was also saved. The passage shows that the man\u2019s cure was effected by his faith and his salvation by his returning to Jesus with praise, an expression of his faith.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

THE JESUS PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

On three occasions in Luke\u2019s Gospel people addressed Jesus by his proper name and begged, \u201chave mercy on us<\/em> (me<\/em>)\u201d or its equivalent. These are the quotations:<\/p>\n

\u201c[The blind man at Jericho] shouted, \u2018Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\u2019 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, \u2018Son of David, have mercy on me!<\/em>\u2019\u201d (Lk. 18: 38. 39).<\/p>\n

\u201c[The Good Thief on the cross] said, \u2018Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom<\/em>.\u2019\u201d (Lk. 23: 48).<\/p>\n

In our present passage, the ten lepers call on him for mercy.<\/p>\n

These three quotations made such an impression on persons in the Church in the East, particularly the Orthodox Church, that they composed a very short prayer that has become one of the most popular prayers of all time. It is known as \u201cThe Jesus Prayer\u201d and consists of the few words, \u201cLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner\u201d.<\/p>\n

This prayer sums up the Good News; it is the whole Gospel in miniature. It is brief and simple, easily remembered and so easy to pray and repeat frequently from the heart. Indeed it is called the \u201cprayer of the heart\u201d. People claim that this prayer does not allow distractions because there are just two people gazing at each other in love: Jesus and oneself. We see Jesus as he is in his essential relationship to us; we see ourselves as we are in our essential relationship to him. We sum up our love perfectly. We never tire of constantly repeating these short words of love.<\/p>\n

It is a prayer of the Spirit because the prayer addresses Jesus as Lord, Christ and Son of God; and as St. Paul tells us, \u201cno one can say \u2018Jesus is Lord\u2019 except by the Holy Spirit<\/em>\u201d (1 Cor. 12:3).<\/p>\n

The First Half<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLord<\/em>\u201d is Jesus\u2019 title after his death and entry into glory. The four evangelists applied it to him during his life. This is the Good News \u2014 this man Jesus is the divine person in the flesh.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus<\/em>\u201d is his proper name as God in the flesh. It is the name which signifies his personality and his individuality. This name reminds us that he has given himself for us on the cross, totally and completely. Jesus is our Saviour because he has such love for us who are so weak. This love means that he belongs to us for ever and he can never cut us off from him. Only we can make that separation.<\/p>\n

\u201cChrist<\/em>\u201d is the Anointed One, promised throughout the Old Testament. He is our priest who offered his life for our salvation, our Prophet who shared his word for our wisdom, our King who served us in humility.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon of God<\/em>\u201d is his title because he is the incarnated Son of God, the Word made flesh.<\/p>\n

These few words make a complete and perfect profession of faith in Jesus.<\/p>\n

The Second Half<\/em><\/p>\n

In addition to the two examples given above, the publican who went up to the Temple to pray said, \u201cGod, be merciful to me a sinner<\/em>\u201d. The second half, like the first half of this short prayer is based on Sacred Scripture. It describes our essential relationship with God \u2014 we are sinners who need his mercy and forgiveness and we ask for this.<\/p>\n

Is this prayer answered? To the blind man, Jesus said, \u201cyour faith has saved you<\/em> [made you well] (Lk. 18: 42). To the Samaritan leper, Jesus said, \u201cRise, and go your way; your faith has saved you<\/em> [has made you well] (Lk. 17: 19). To the Good Thief, Jesus said, \u201cToday you will be with me in Paradise<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 23: 43). Finally, to the people to whom he had been speaking, Jesus said, \u201cI tell you, this man <\/em>[the publican in the Temple] went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 18: 14). No words could be more powerful than these. He who humbly and sincerely asks for mercy is assured that Jesus will grant what is asked.<\/p>\n

St. Paul pleaded that we \u201cbe constant in prayer<\/em>\u201d (Rm. 12: 12) and that we \u201cpray without ceasing<\/em>\u201d (I Thess. 5: 17). How better obey than by regular offering of The Jesus Prayer?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT: LUKE 17:11\u201319 Ten lepers 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama\u2019ria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices and said, \u201cJesus, Master, have mercy on us.\u201d Jesus\u2019 instruction 14 When<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6003"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8424,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6003\/revisions\/8424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}