26th Sunday after Pentecost
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Dear brothers and sisters!
Jesus was going to Jerusalem and as he was entering a certain village, He met ten lepers. They lifted up their voice, and cried: “Jesus, master, have pity on us”. Jesus said to them: “Go, show yourselves to the priests”.
As they were on their way, they were made clean. One of them, a Samaritan, foreigner, seeing that he was made clean, returned, and fell on his face at Jesus feet giving thanks.
Jesus said: “Were not the ten made clean? But where – are the nine? Has no one been found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner…?”
Jesus sent ten lepers to the priests. These words of Jesus call to our mind our Church. What is the Church? The Church is the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the same sacrifice and the same Sacraments under the Holy Father, the Pope.
Jesus founded the Church to bring all men to eternal salvation. Jesus picked twelve apostles, and made them first bishops. To Saint Peter Jesus gave the chief power over all and made him the head of His Church. All our bishops are the successors of the apostles. Who helps the bishop in teaching, sanctifying and ruling all people who belong to the Church? The priests.
Jesus made a special Sacrament of Holy Orders through which bishops, priests and other ministers of the Church are ordained, and receive grace and power from God to perform their sacred duties; to offer, to bless, to rule, to preach, to baptize, to forgive the sins in the holy Confession, and to offer the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Church is the House of God and the gate of heaven. Our duty is to join Jesus' Church. To defend and support the Church. Our duty is to assist at Divine Liturgy on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation.
Our duty is to keep peace in our congregation. In the Church we are one family of God. The family is obliged to live in peace, unity and charity.
If you are not a member of the Church, go, show yourselves to the priests.