Similarly transforming was the gesture of St. Francis of Assisi kissing a leper, thus overcoming his fear of contagion, and strong desire to avoid the leprous man, with a courageous act of love.
Social distancing to avoid disease is nothing new. Long before the germ theory of disease, isolation and fear of contagion kept anyone with visible skin disease “unclean,” on the outskirts of society. According to custom, one could re-enter society only after a priest certified a cure.
The ten lepers in today’s Gospel needed to raise their voices to be heard from their (socially safe) distance. “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus only instructs them to show themselves to the priests.
As they were going, all were cured, but like St. Martin of Tours’ kept half-cloak, only one – a foreigner – returned to thank Jesus.
Again, a raising of the voice – a loud voice giving glory to God, and the cured one no longer distanced himself but courageously and with great faith approached Jesus, threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.
For me it takes courage to raise my voice to God, to ask for a felt closeness, a sure knowledge of his love for me. But when I do, it is in the going that he answers me. God’s love for me becomes felt in acts of kindness toward those he presents to me throughout the day. Isolated as we are during Covid-19, a phone call, a letter, a prayer for others all manifest God’s love for us. I can feel it.
May we all throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet and thank him.
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A story has it that two angels were sent to collect the prayer petitions of the people. One angel was given a basket to collect the people's needs and requests, and the other angel was given a basket to collect the thanksgivings. On their way back to heaven, the angel carrying the basket of the people's needs and requests was full and over-flowing, whereas the angel carrying the people's thanksgiving was light and there were few thanksgivings. That is not surprising isn't it. By and large, people are more concerned with their needs rather than the need to give thanks.
What more will God not give since He had already given His only Son? We only need to give a basket-full of thanks and praise to God. In turn we will receive blessing upon blessing, grace upon grace.
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Let us pray: Lord God, from you comes all we are and have; we owe you above all forgiveness and life through your Son Jesus Christ. We pray you today for grateful hearts. Make us thankful for the right things, not merely for being lucky in life nor for the happiness of the self-satisfied but for the joy that in him even suffering and death have meaning. Accept all our thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Saint Martin of Tours; Feast Day November 11
One wintry day, young Martin, soldier and catechumen, met a shivering beggar in the street. He cut his cape in two, giving half to the man. That night in a dream St. Martin saw Jesus wearing it and heard him say, “Martin is still only a catechumen, but has covered me with this garment.” Stunned, soon afterward Martin presented himself for baptism.
Martin’s father, a Roman tribune, had arranged for his son’s conscription into the army at age 15. So Martin performed military service until he decided that it contradicted his Christian commitment. Sulpicius Severus, the saint’s first biographer, described the day that Martin became the first Christian conscientious objector:
. . . The barbarians were invading the Gallic provinces. Assembling an army at the city of the Vangiones, Emperor Julian prepared to distribute a bonus to his troops. The men were called up in the customary manner, one by one, until Martin’s turn came. He recognized that moment as a suitable time to ask for his discharge, and he did not think it would be honest for him to accept the bonus when he did not intend to fight. “I have fought for you up to this point,” he said to Caesar. “Now let me fight for God. As for your bonus, let someone who is going to join the battle receive it. I am a soldier of Christ: combat is not permitted me.”
Julian exploded with rage and threatened Martin, calling him a coward.
“If my act is set down to cowardice rather than to faith,” he said, “I shall stand unarmed tomorrow before our lines. In the name of the Lord Jesus and protected only by the sign of the cross, without shield or helmet, I shall penetrate the enemy’s ranks and not be afraid.”
The next day, the enemy sent an embassy to sue for peace, handing over themselves and all that was theirs. From this can anyone doubt that the victory was due to the blessed man—a grace granted to prevent his being sent unarmed into combat?
As there was now no war to fight, Martin got his discharge.
Martin was renowned as a miracle worker, performing many cures and even raising a dead man. Once, for example, he healed St. Paulinus of Nola’s diseased eye by touching it lightly with a fine paintbrush. Martin died on November 11, 397. Because of his reputation, he became one of the most admired saints of the Middle Ages.
