Wednesday, November 11, 2026 — Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Where are the other nine?
Luke 17:11-19
Readings of the day: First Reading: Titus 3:1-7; Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1b-3a, 3bc-4, 5, 6; Gospel Acclamation: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Gospel: Luke 17:11-19.
The Gospel
On the way to Jerusalem, ten lepers meet Jesus and cry out, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” He sends them to the priests, and as they go they are cleansed. Only one comes back, glorifying God in a loud voice and thanking him at his feet, and he is a Samaritan. “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?”
Reflection
All ten were healed on the way; only one came back. Healing is a gift; thanksgiving is the gift returned. St. Bede teaches that faith made whole the one who hurried back to give thanks, while unbelief destroys those who neglect to give glory to God for mercies received. The one who returned was a Samaritan, a stranger; St. Theophylact notes that a man is not hindered from pleasing God by where he comes from, only by the purpose of his heart. Before asking for more today, let us go back and give thanks for what we have already received.
From the Fathers
“They stood afar off, but were made nigh unto Him by their prayers. For the Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him in truth.”
— St. Theophylact, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 17:11–19
“But if faith made him whole, who hurried himself back to give thanks, therefore does unbelief destroy those who have neglected to give glory to God for mercies received.”
— St. Bede, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 17:11–19
“We may gather from this that a man is not one whit hindered from pleasing God because he comes from a cursed race, only let him bear in his heart an honest purpose.”
— St. Theophylact, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 17:11–19
Saint of the day
Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397). A soldier in the Roman army, he cut his military cloak in two at the gate of Amiens to share it with a freezing beggar; that night he saw Christ wearing the half-cloak. He became a monk, a disciple of St. Hilary of Poitiers, founded the monastery of Ligugé, and was consecrated Bishop of Tours in 371. He died on 8 November 397; his feast is kept on 11 November.
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Sources: the day’s readings follow the daily lectionary (USCCB, Lectionary 493). The Gospel text is not reproduced here; read it at the link above. Patristic quotes: Catena Aurea on Luke 17:11–19, compiled by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by John Henry Newman (1841, public domain).