All authority has been given to us, that is to say we are empowered by Christ to go make disciples of all nations! How then are we using that authority as leaders of the men and women, sisters and brothers He sends to us?
We already know that we deserve to be punished if we abuse that authority for our own gains or if we allow our sinful inclinations to rule our hearts and minds as we lead His flock. But doing nothing, embracing inertia or even doing only things we are comfortable with is an abuse of the authority given to us. How then can we call ourselves His disciples if we do nothing to build His Kingdom? If there is no growth and new life in the lives of those who have been entrusted to us and placed under our care?
How then do we glorify, praise and thank Him for His gift of new life in Him; given freely by His life, death and resurrection!
Jesus, I kneel before You as I shout out Your praises! Thank You Jesus for loving me. Amen
Saint Albert the Great pray for us…
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First reading
Wisdom 6:1-11
Kings, your power is a gift to you from the Lord
Listen, kings, and understand;
rulers of remotest lands, take warning;
hear this, you who have thousands under your rule,
who boast of your hordes of subjects.
For power is a gift to you from the Lord,
sovereignty is from the Most High;
he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.
If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly
nor observed the law,
nor behaved as God would have you behave,
he will fall on you swiftly and terribly.
Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty;
the lowly will be compassionately pardoned,
the mighty will be mightily punished.
For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage,
he does not stand in awe of greatness,
since he himself has made small and great
and provides for all alike;
but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.
Yes, despots, my words are for you,
that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress;
for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy,
and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.
Look forward, therefore, to my words;
yearn for them, and they will instruct you.
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Gospel
Luke 17:11-19
No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
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