Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
About a month ago, I suffered a traumatic injury to my mouth. I was trimming tree branches in the yard when suddenly a long, sturdy, elastic branch swung up with great force and caught me on the chin. I’ll spare you the gory details, but the blow caused significant damage to my chin, upper front teeth, and lips. Thankfully my dentist was able to see me quickly, and he restored a dislodged tooth to its proper spot, bonded loose teeth, and stitched a gash in my lower lip. God worked through his hands to begin the work of restoration. Thanks to God’s mercy, my lips and chin healed much more quickly than I would have imagined. I’ve been gushing gratitude ever since for God’s protection, healing, and loving care.
One tooth remained loose, sore, and excruciatingly cold sensitive. An experience I had this past Friday adds amazement to this entire testimony. I was out for a walk, when suddenly, out of the blue, I felt a sensation on the wounded tooth like fingers giving it a firm upward thrust. I felt a brief pain and a sensation like a bolt of electricity running up the tooth into the gum. Immediately, I knew it was the Lord’s hand upon that tooth! Instantly it felt firm in the gum and the cold sensitivity vanished. I believe I experienced a healing miracle! Glory and thanks be to our great God! I write these words with a sense of awe and wonder and inexpressible gratitude to Jehovah Raphah, the Lord our Healer.
In today’s Gospel, ten lepers are healed but only one returns to offer his thanks and gratitude to Jesus. I’m surprised by the lack of gratitude by the nine. Not only did the Lord heal their physical affliction, but he restored them to their families, friends and community. Marginalized due to the contagious nature of their infectious skin disease, they had suffered the emotional pain of being disconnected and ostracized. I would imagine that the emotional pain of isolation was worse than the physical discomfort of their illness. It’s not my place to judge them for their lack of response to Christ’s dramatic intervention in their lives. It’s just surprising. But what about me; what about you? The nine lepers’ omission invites us to examine our own relationships with Jesus, and our responsiveness to his presence. I experienced a dramatic healing last week. The obvious awesomeness of it brought me to my knees in deep gratitude. But what about the small things? Do I recognize and celebrate his love for me moment by moment? Am I aware of Jesus’ healing touch that reaches out to me daily in small or even seemingly insignificant ways? Do I give God the glory for every victory, every healing, every moment of conversion like the one leper did? Do I glorify God in my heart, in my words, and in my actions, or am I oblivious? Sometimes the healing I pray for does not come in the way that I envision or desire. Even then may I be grateful for God’s loving presence with me and cultivate a more radical heart of gratitude. I don’t ever want to be like one of the nine lepers who receive a touch from the Lord and simply walk away. How about you? Would you join me today in reflecting upon the love of Christ and the power of his presence, asking God to help us grow in receptivity to the Spirit? Let’s be people of radical gratitude today as we thank God for gifts both great and small and give God all the glory. Amen and amen!
Elizabeth Wourms