November 11, 2026
Memorial for Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Readings for Today
Readings for Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week for Ordinary Time
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As Jesus continue His journey go Jerusalem, He pass through Samaria and Galilee. As He dey enter one village, ten people wey get leprosy meet Him. Dem stand far from Him, come raise their voice talk say, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” When He see dem, He tell dem, “Make una go show unaselves to the priests.” As dem dey go, dem become clean. Luke 17:11–14
According to the Law of Moses, dem declare people wey get leprosy unclean for religious rites, and dem must live separate from the community. Dem must wear cloth wey tear, leave their hair rough, cover the lower part of their face, and shout “Unclean! Unclean!” whenever anybody come near dem (see Leviticus 13:45–46). This separation stop the sickness from spreading and keep the people of Israel clean for religious rites. People wey get leprosy suffer serious separation from other people, separation for spiritual life, and personal pain. This make their condition one of the saddest pictures wey the Bible use show sin and the things wey sin dey cause.
The people wey get leprosy for today Gospel meet Jesus as He dey enter one village wey dem no allow dem enter. Dem dey live for the edge of the village, likely with other people wey get the same condition. For spiritual life, dem represent each of us. If we fit humble ourselves see ourselves for their condition, we go dey more ready to accept the lesson wey dem dey teach us.
For the condition wey we dey now, our souls don lose their spiritual beauty because of human nature wey don fall into sin and our personal sins. As a symbol, this world dey for the edge of the Kingdom of God—a place wey we no fit enter from until grace make us clean. These people wey get leprosy show us the road to that cleansing. First, dem teach us to recognise wetin we need, then turn to Christ with strong hope for His mercy, so that we fit return to full communion with God and the saints.
Ten people cry out from far, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Even though Scripture no talk whether na only these people get leprosy near that village, e fit be say others keep quiet. If na so, these ten wey cry out represent people wey humbly admit their misery, their fallen condition, their separation from God Kingdom, and wey trust the power of Christ to save dem.
For the same way, we must remember say this world no be our true home. Together with our first parents, dem drive us comot from Paradise because of Original Sin. Na only through the mercy of Christ we fit return. To recognise say we dey exile and know wetin cause am na the first step towards healing. If we no admit the leprosy wey dey our spiritual life, we no go cry out for the only cure: the mercy of Jesus.
One beautiful thing about this story na say e show another level of spiritual healing wey deep pass the first one. The ten wey cry out and receive healing represent people wey don receive Baptism and remain for state of grace, either by avoiding mortal sin or by returning to grace through sacramental confession and absolution. But na only one, when he realise say he don receive healing, come back to thank Jesus. The other nine no come back.
As na only one come back, e suggest say na the other nine represent most of us well pass. Just as small pikin wey never mature dey expect im parents to feed am and care for am, na so we too dey often expect God to forgive us and restore us without thanking Him as we suppose. If na only so our spiritual life reach, we never mature. To mature for spiritual life, we must also grow for thanksgiving by always returning to God for prayer, glorifying Him with loud voice, and falling for Jesus feet to adore Him. Na only then we go receive deeper healing and share more fully for God mercy.
Reflect today on how the people wey get leprosy cry out for mercy, and ask yourself whether you recognise say you too need healing. You ready to admit your spiritual wounds, cry out to Jesus, and continue to give thanks without giving up? If na so, you dey among the nine wey take God mercy as something wey no need special thanks, and fail to thank Him well for the gift of spiritual cleansing and restoration? Try hard to be like the one wey return to Jesus with humility, thanksgiving, and full faith. Fall for Jesus feet to adore Him, thank Him for everything wey He don do, and hear Him tell you, “Your faith don save you.”
Lord wey dey give pass all, Your mercy no get end, and You dey give am freely, more than we fit need. Even with all Your goodness, I often take You as Person wey I no need to appreciate, and I no dey give You the thanks and humble worship wey You deserve. Abeg, have mercy on me now and always. Remove every feeling say I get right to demand Your gifts, so that I go always return to You, fall before You, and thank You from my heart with the deepest humility. Jesus, na You I trust.
Saint of the Day – Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Readings wey You Fit Choose for Mass
