One in Ten: The Healing That Saves

Titus 3:1-7, Psalm: 22, Lk 17:11-19

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Ten lepers were healed. Only one returned to say thank you. And he was a foreigner—a Samaritan, an outsider. Jesus asks the painful question: “Where are the nine?” He then tells the one who returned, “Rise and go; your faith has saved you.” Notice the distinction: all ten were cleansed, but only one was saved. The difference was gratitude.

In his Letter to Titus, Saint Paul reminds us of our own story: “We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness we had done, but according to his mercy.” Grace came first. God acted before we could earn it. The healing of the lepers is a perfect picture of that grace—a free gift, unearned, given to ten men who simply cried out for mercy. But only the one who returned allowed grace to become salvation.

Saint Martin of Tours understood this. A Roman soldier, he met a beggar shivering in the cold and cut his cloak in half to clothe him. That night he dreamed of Christ wearing the half-cloak, saying, “Martin, a catechumen, clothed me.” Martin’s whole life became a response of gratitude. He was baptized, left the army, became a monk, and eventually a bishop—always giving himself away because he knew he had first been given everything.

Pope Francis has said, “Gratitude is the memory of the heart. A Christian who does not give thanks is a Christian who has forgotten his first encounter with mercy.” Saint John Paul II, reflecting on this Gospel, noted that the leper’s return was not just politeness; it was faith—faith that recognizes the Healer, not just the healing.

What does this mean for us? We have been cleansed by Baptism. We are fed at the altar. We are forgiven in Confession. But have we returned to give thanks? The nine were not bad people. They were just busy. They were healed and went on their way, and their healing never became salvation because they never turned back. The one who returned received not only a new body but a new relationship with the Lord.

Today, let us be the one who returns. Let us thank God at every Eucharist, but also in the small moments: the recovery from illness, the kindness of a friend, the quiet grace of daily bread. Let us not leave the Lord waiting while we rush to enjoy His gifts. For gratitude is the doorway to faith, and a thankful heart is already a saved heart.

Saint Martin of Tours, pray for us, that we may learn to see Christ in the poor and to return thanks for all His mercies. Amen. May God bless you all!