Today is Sunday the 12th of October, beginning the 28th week of ordinary time.

Praise God from who blessings flow Salt of the Sound sings Boxology. Praise him all, ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Today's reading is from the Gospel of Luke. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.

And as he entered a village, ten lepers approached him.

Keeping their distance, they called out,

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 made clean.

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back praising God with a loud voice.

He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus asked, were not ten made clean?

But the other nine, where are they?

Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?

Then he said to him, get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well. Today's reading recalls another dusty road and another encounter with a Samaritan, though this time it is Jesus himself who reaches out with compassion.

Jesus and his friends are near the border between Samaria and Galilee.

The dusty road stretches ahead and in the distance a group of ten figures shout to him from afar dutifully

keeping their distance.

Can you hear the desperation in their voices?

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests, and as they go they are healed.

Only one, a Samaritan, returns to thank Jesus.

Jesus wonders aloud, were not all ten cleansed?

Where are the other nine?

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