St. Elizabeth's Men's Day Celebration 2010
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2 Kings 5: 14-17
Ps. 98: 1. 2-3, 3-4 (26)
2 Timothy 2: 8-13
Luke 17: 11-19
2 Kings 5: 14-17
Ps. 98: 1. 2-3, 3-4 (26)
2 Timothy 2: 8-13
Luke 17: 11-19
On Sunday, October 10th, St. Elizabeth's celebrated our annual Men's Day. Each year, the Men's Group invites a guest homilist to celebrate with us. This year, Deacon Calvin Bailey from the Basilica in Norfolk gave a wonderful spirit-filled homily for our appreciative congregation.
A new tradition also came into being at St. E's this day as four men of the Church were honored as pillars of our parish community. Those so honored were James Thompson, Sam Walker, Burton Robinson and Roscoe Moon. James and Sam are long time members of our gospel choir. Burton and Roscoe have been active in parish ministry for many years as ushers and Men's Group members.
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In our Gospel reading today, we can see Jesus teaching us what it means to be grateful. Jesus was moved with compassion at the plight of the lepers. We know that lepers were ostracized members of the community. They were considered unclean. They were not even allowed to worship with their people. Nine of them were members of the chosen people of God. The tenth was a Samaritan: a man who was in the wrong place at the right time, as Deacon Bailey reminded us.
Jesus did not make a big spectacle of curing these lepers. He simply told them to show themselves to the priest. They were on their way to the city when they realized that they had been cured. Can't you just imagine the joy that must have been theirs as they rushed to the temple to show themselves to the priest?
But one of them remembered who had cured him. And that one returned and "fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him." (Luke 17:16) He was the Samaritan, a man who was the foreigner among the ten.
"Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:17)
Sometimes we find ourselves being the "other nine"... How often do we take our blessings for granted; not remembering that we have a responsibility to thank God for all the blessings we receive every day. We forget that God is in the midst of everything that happens to us.
Thus, following the example of that Samaritan, let us be the ones to fall at the feet of Jesus in thanksgiving for all he has done for us.
A new tradition also came into being at St. E's this day as four men of the Church were honored as pillars of our parish community. Those so honored were James Thompson, Sam Walker, Burton Robinson and Roscoe Moon. James and Sam are long time members of our gospel choir. Burton and Roscoe have been active in parish ministry for many years as ushers and Men's Group members.
- - - - - - - - -
In our Gospel reading today, we can see Jesus teaching us what it means to be grateful. Jesus was moved with compassion at the plight of the lepers. We know that lepers were ostracized members of the community. They were considered unclean. They were not even allowed to worship with their people. Nine of them were members of the chosen people of God. The tenth was a Samaritan: a man who was in the wrong place at the right time, as Deacon Bailey reminded us.
Jesus did not make a big spectacle of curing these lepers. He simply told them to show themselves to the priest. They were on their way to the city when they realized that they had been cured. Can't you just imagine the joy that must have been theirs as they rushed to the temple to show themselves to the priest?
But one of them remembered who had cured him. And that one returned and "fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him." (Luke 17:16) He was the Samaritan, a man who was the foreigner among the ten.
"Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:17)
Sometimes we find ourselves being the "other nine"... How often do we take our blessings for granted; not remembering that we have a responsibility to thank God for all the blessings we receive every day. We forget that God is in the midst of everything that happens to us.
Thus, following the example of that Samaritan, let us be the ones to fall at the feet of Jesus in thanksgiving for all he has done for us.
Labels: Men's Day, ordinary time, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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