Faith Daily | 9 November 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p

Blessed God,

you have caused all holy Scriptures to be written

for our learning:

grant that we may so hear them,

read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,

that, by patience and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and ever hold fast

the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 17: 11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Catriona Tullberg

Leprosy is a long term progressive skin disease that is highly infectious. Normally Jews and Samaritans did not associate but leprosy broke down social barriers while erecting others. Normal procedure was to show yourself to the priests if you had a cure, and they would verify this. Otherwise lepers had to isolate themselves.

Knowing that the Kingdom of God is all around us and waiting for us to take our concerns to God is at the base of our faith. Our faith highlights the importance of talking to God about our difficulties as well as the ethos of helping each other. It is very easy to take things for granted and fail to thank those who help us in many unknown ways. Jesus teaches us that healing makes such a difference in our lives, both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

FINAL PRAYER Peter Marshall

God of our fathers and our God,

Give us the faith to believe in the ultimate triumph of righteousness,

no matter how dark and uncertain are the skies of today.

We pray for the bifocals of faith - that see the despair

and the need of the hour

but also see, further on, the patience of our God working out

His plan in the world he has made.

Make our faith honest by helping us this day to do one thing

because thou hast said “Do it,”

Or to abstain because thou hast said, “Thou shalt not.”

May our faith be seen in our works.

Amen.