TWENTY FIFTH MEDITATION FOR LENT
And Jesus answering, said: "Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger." (Luke 17:17-18)
People in the world cannot endure ingratitude; it is only with regard to God that people are unconcerned about being ungrateful. This miraculous cure was wrought for ten persons; of those ten, only one was found to thank his Benefactor. Of all the benefits which we have received from God, without doubt, the greatest is the Blessed Sacrament. It is even the source of most of the other benefits which we daily receive. And who thinks of thanking Jesus Christ often for this great benefit? Who thanks our admirable Redeemer for having abolished all other sacrifices and leaving us a Victim which God must accept, a Victim in proportion to the other benefits which we have received from Him, and to those which we may further demand; A Victim capable of blotting out the sins of all men; a Victim which is a sovereign remedy for all our evils; a Tree of Life which can communicate to us not only health, but even immortality? As, of old, our Savior complains of the ingratitude of the nine lepers cleansed who did not return to give thanks; so, in our days He complains through His servant, St. Margaret Mary, of the ingratitude of men for the benefits of the Blessed Eucharist: "If men would but make some return of love to Me, I would consider as nothing all that I have done."
[From 'The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus' by Fr. John Croiset, SJ]
And Jesus answering, said: "Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger." (Luke 17:17-18)
People in the world cannot endure ingratitude; it is only with regard to God that people are unconcerned about being ungrateful. This miraculous cure was wrought for ten persons; of those ten, only one was found to thank his Benefactor. Of all the benefits which we have received from God, without doubt, the greatest is the Blessed Sacrament. It is even the source of most of the other benefits which we daily receive. And who thinks of thanking Jesus Christ often for this great benefit? Who thanks our admirable Redeemer for having abolished all other sacrifices and leaving us a Victim which God must accept, a Victim in proportion to the other benefits which we have received from Him, and to those which we may further demand; A Victim capable of blotting out the sins of all men; a Victim which is a sovereign remedy for all our evils; a Tree of Life which can communicate to us not only health, but even immortality? As, of old, our Savior complains of the ingratitude of the nine lepers cleansed who did not return to give thanks; so, in our days He complains through His servant, St. Margaret Mary, of the ingratitude of men for the benefits of the Blessed Eucharist: "If men would but make some return of love to Me, I would consider as nothing all that I have done."
[From 'The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus' by Fr. John Croiset, SJ]
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