Homily – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2025)
October 5, 2025Homily – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
October 19, 2025Scroll down to see the children’s liturgy questions for this weekend.
In today’s Gospel, we hear a very touching story about ten lepers. In those days, leprosy was one of the worst diseases anyone could have. It was not only painful in the body, but it also caused great loneliness. People who had leprosy were forced to live outside the towns and villages. No one wanted to go near them. They were not allowed to see their families, go to the temple, or be part of the community. They were rejected, forgotten, and treated as if they no longer belonged to society.
One day, as Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem, ten lepers saw Him coming from a distance. They could not come close, so they shouted loudly, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” It is amazing that even though they were separated from others, they still had hope. They believed Jesus could help them. Jesus heard their cry. He did not touch them or perform a big miracle in front of everyone. Instead, He simply said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
This was the way people who were healed from leprosy had to be declared clean again according to Jewish law. The ten lepers obeyed immediately, and as they were walking, they were healed! Their skin became clean again. Can you imagine the joy they must have felt? After so many years of being rejected, they could finally go home, hug their loved ones, and live a normal life again. But something special happens next. Out of the ten, only one man turns back to thank Jesus. He falls at Jesus’ feet, praising God with all his heart. And this man, Jesus tells us, was a Samaritan — someone who was not even considered as a part of the chosen people by the Jews. Yet he is the one who remembers to say “thank you.”
Then Jesus asks, “Ten cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?” He is not angry, but He is sad that only one came back to give thanks. The others received healing in their bodies, but this man received something much deeper — the healing of his heart. Jesus says to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
My brothers and sisters, this Gospel teaches us something very important. It reminds us that gratitude is one of the most beautiful prayers we can offer to God. Sometimes we are like the nine lepers — we receive blessings, help, good health, family, friends, and so many gifts, but we forget to come back and say “thank you” to the Lord. Every day we should be like the one leper who returned. Let us recognize God’s goodness in the small things — in the food we eat, the people who love us, the safety of our homes, and the faith that guides us. Gratitude opens our hearts to even greater blessings. When we thank God, our relationship with Him becomes deeper, and our joy becomes more complete.
Today, Jesus also tells us: “Your faith has saved you.” Real faith is not only believing that God can help us, but also returning to Him with a grateful heart. Let us always remember to say, “Thank you, Lord, for your mercy, for your love, and for the many ways you bless my life.” And may our gratitude lead us to love and serve others, especially those who feel forgotten or rejected, just like the lepers once did. May we remain with hearts full of thanksgiving, ready to notice God’s gifts and to share His love with those around us. Amen
Children’s Liturgy Questions
- Did Jesus travel through Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem? Yes.
- Did ten men with leprosy meet Jesus from a distance? Yes.
- Were the lepers standing very close to Jesus when they talked to Him? No.
- Did the lepers call out, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us”? Yes.
- Did Jesus tell the lepers to go and show themselves to the priests? Yes.
- Were the lepers healed while they were walking to the priests? Yes.
- Did all ten lepers come back to thank Jesus? No.
- Did only one man return to thank Jesus? Yes.
- Was the man who came back a Samaritan? Yes.
- Did the thankful man fall at Jesus’ feet and praise God? Yes.
- Did Jesus ask, “Ten were cleansed, were they not?” Yes.
- Was Jesus happy that only one man came back? No.
- Did Jesus tell the thankful man, “Your faith has saved you”? Yes.
- Were the other nine lepers Jews? Yes.
- Did the lepers first shout to Jesus because they believed He could heal them? Yes.
- Did Jesus touch the lepers to heal them? No.
- Was gratitude important in this story? Yes.
- Did the man who returned show both faith and thankfulness? Yes.
- Did Jesus send the thankful man away with peace? Yes.
- Should we always remember to thank God for what He does for us? Yes.
