On the 28th Sunday after Pentecost, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, His Grace Filaret of Căpriana, Metropolitan Vicar Bishop, celebrated the Holy and Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chișinău.
The Holy Church calls us to reflect on the boundless mercy and love of our Saviour Jesus Christ through the Gospel account of the healing of the ten lepers, as related by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke (17:12–19).
The Gospel presents the encounter of the Lord with ten men afflicted by the grievous suffering of leprosy, who, standing at a distance, cried out with a loud voice:
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13).
Seeing their faith, the Saviour commanded them:
“Go, show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:14),
and as they went, they were cleansed of their disease.
Of the ten, only one—and he was a Samaritan—returned, “glorifying God with a loud voice”, and fell at the feet of Jesus, giving thanks to Him (Luke 17:15–16). Then the Lord said with sorrow, yet with truth:
“Were not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17).
And He said to the grateful one: “Rise, go your way; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19).
This miracle reveals not only the healing power of Christ, but also the importance of gratitude for the blessings received from God. Often, like the nine, we receive His gifts yet forget to return with thanksgiving and praise.
Let us ask God for the grace to have a living faith and a thankful heart, so that, recognising His providential care in our lives, we may continually glorify Him and advance with hope on the path of salvation.
Source: Căpriana Monastery