The Authority of a Grateful Heart

Wis 6:1-11; Psalm: 81; Lk 17:11-19

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, on this Memorial of Saint Josaphat, a bishop who shed his blood for the unity of the Church, the Word of God speaks to us about the true nature of authority and the one response that unlocks the fullness of faith: a heart overflowing with gratitude.

The Book of Wisdom, though addressed to kings and rulers, speaks to all who hold any authority—parents, teachers, pastors, and each of us over our own souls. The warning is solemn: “Your authority was given to you by the Lord… therefore, a rigorous scrutiny awaits you.” Power is not a right for personal gain, but a sacred trust to be exercised with holiness and justice, for “the Holy One knows all your thoughts.” The path to righteous leadership is one of learning: “Learn wisdom… that you may continue in his ways.” True authority is found not in lording over others, but in humble submission to God’s law.

This theme of humble recognition finds its perfect expression in the Gospel. Ten lepers, outcasts from society, cry out to Jesus for mercy. He heals them all, sending them to the priests. Yet, only one, a Samaritan and a double-outsider, returns. He does not just come back; he comes back “glorifying God in a loud voice,” and falls at the feet of Jesus to thank Him. This act of gratitude is the pivotal moment. Jesus notes the absence of the other nine and then tells the Samaritan, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” The others were cleansed, but this man was saved. His grateful heart opened the door to a deeper, more salvific relationship with the Lord. His faith was made perfect in thanksgiving.

Saint Josaphat perfectly embodies this fusion of righteous authority and grateful faith. As a bishop, he took to heart the warning from Wisdom. He exercised his authority not for himself, but to shepherd his people toward full communion with the See of Peter, seeking the unity for which Christ prayed. His authority was one of service. And what fueled this service? Surely, a profound gratitude for the gift of faith—a gratitude so deep that he was willing to become a martyr for it, giving his life in witness to the Church’s unity. He understood that the faith he had received was a gift to be cherished, protected, and for which to be eternally thankful.

This World offers us comfort and strength. It comforts us because it reveals that salvation is not merely about being cleansed of our sins, but about entering into a saving relationship with Jesus, a relationship nurtured by gratitude. It strengthens us for our own spheres of authority, reminding us that we will be judged by our fidelity and mercy, not by our power.

How do we apply this? First, we must cultivate the habit of the grateful leper. Do we merely receive God’s blessings—the healing, the daily grace, the very gift of faith—and go on our way? Or do we constantly return to Him in the Eucharist (which means “thanksgiving”) to glorify God and fall at His feet? Second, we must exercise our own authority with holy fear, whether in leading a family, a team, or simply our own passions, always seeking the good of the other.

As Pope Saint John Paul II, who cherished Saint Josaphat’s witness, said, “The Church must be a house of welcome, a place of gratitude and love.”

Let us ask for the intercession of Saint Josaphat. May he help us to be leaders of gratitude in a world of entitlement, so that our faith may not only cleanse us but save us, and our lives may glorify the God from whom all authority and every good gift comes. Amen.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.