28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2025 - Year C

Gospel for the day - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Luke 17:11-19
‘No one was found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner.’


On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When he saw them he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’


This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.



Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week.

Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts. If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word please email us: cluster.alpha@outlook.com




Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


The gospel this week shows us how easy it is to be ungrateful. Nine of the lepers didn't return to say thank you, despite being healed from the most disfiguring, isolating and feared of diseases. Giving thanks, enriches the person who has received the gift, just as much as it enriches, the gift giver. A sense of gratitude helps us to maintain our sense of awe - we can find pleasure in walking through creation giving thanks for the wonder of nature or delight in the kindness of a neighbour. It ensures we do not take things for granted. 
It seems however, almost unbelievable that only one returned to Jesus. This points to the power of distraction or perhaps the pull of society. There could be temptation and pressure to give the priests, the credit for the cure. There could be pressure to immediately run from the shame of the disease and pretend it had never happened. Whatever the reason, it was only the Samaritan who returned to give thanks, even before he had presented himself to the priest. It is important to remember that he is a foreigner, despised by the Jews for practising a religion they considered heretical. Seen as different, seen as other. But it is this foreigner who has recognised what has been bestowed upon him and seen it as gift. When Jesus tells him that his faith has made him well, it is clear, that Jesus is not talking about the institution of religion but that the Samaritan has faith in Jesus, the individual. Therefore the need to have the cure confirmed is put into its correct priority - for the Samaritan it is secondary to thanking the person who has given the gift. The foreigner was the only one to grasp that Jesus' message of compassion and love is revolutionary and that his life would be forever changed because Jesus had cured him and touched his heart. 


1. What might have stopped you going back to say thank you and why?

2. Whose generosity do you tend to take for granted? How will you change this?*




 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center


Prayers of Intercession

For the Church as a beacon illuminating dark nights and a source of hope for people in need.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


As we reach, this week, a critical phase in the process of achieving a ceasefire and peace in Gaza, we pray that the Holy Spirit may guide and inspire our world leaders to reach agreement and put the needs of humanity above everything else. We also ask God to continue to inspire our community and all communities, to promote acts of love and kindness to each other, recognising that these are instrumental in turning hatred into hope.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


As Pope Leo leads the Church, this weekend, in a Jubilee of Marian Spirituality we ask Lord Jesus, our divine master, to hear the prayers of his mother, Our Lady, to soften hardened hearts, bring an end to conflict and inspire world leaders to pursue a path of peace.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


When we reflect on the theme of today’s Gospel let us always remember to thank Jesus for being with us and for everything he does for us.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For Brannon, Brogan, Joseph, Kristof, Rueben and Susan, seeking to become one with us through the process of Christian Initiation, that they will have our unfailing prayers and support.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For those suffering in body, mind or spirit, and all those on the prayer foundation list, we pray that the Holy Spirit will be with them and their families and that they will receive all the love and support they need at this time. 

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


For all who have died recently,  for those who are grieving and those whose anniversaries occur at this time. We remember especially: Jeffrey Sogovia, James Alphonso D’Souza, Bridget Bonnar, Joe Callaghan, Michael Boyle and Dorothy Gilhooley. May they rest in peace and live in glory in the Lord’s Kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer


We will now say together the prayer to be missionary disciples.

Cluster prayer

Lord continue to bless our community in this time of transition.

Help us on our journey to grow from a maintenance church to a missionary church.
Give us the courage to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and prejudice.

Kindle in us the fire of your love that all who come here will find joy, peace and love.

Make this a house of prayer and a gateway to your kingdom.

AMEN

Preparing for next week -  29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Luke 18:1-8
‘God will give justice to his elect, who cry to him.’

At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” ’
  And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’


This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)



The plight of the widow in today's gospel has a vivid contemporary resonance in our world where many people, communities and nations are crying out for justice.

In so many parts of the world the need for fairness and justice in our world has never been more urgent.

Sadly, the notion of the common good is being publicly shredded by some powerful political forces whilst the unique insights of Catholic Social Teaching can find few prophetic voices to challenge them.

The widow's faith in her quest for justice is not only strong but also persistent.

Every waking moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions, our fears and our joys.

As Christians, our faith journey is more a marathon than a sprint; it's a lifelong war where we'll not win every battle.

The widow and Jesus are agreed on this: that true faith never doubts the outcome - and crucially doesn't care how long it takes. 


1. Have you ever been tempted to give up on prayer?

2. Whose needs might you be failing to listen to right now?*


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center