Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time, November 11, 2026, Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop.
Our meditation today has the theme: Asking Something More Than Healing. Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours (France) is also known as a saint of generosity. He was born to gentile family. His father was a Roman soldier and in his youth he was already a soldier. At the age of 18 he was baptized to be a Catholic.
One of his famous stories was when as a soldier in the area of Gaul (now France), he returned from an army duty while riding his horse. He met a beggar who was freezing to death. Martin only had an army coat attached to his body, yet he cut the coat in two, half of which was put on the beggar. Upon arriving at a church he prayed and in a vision he found Jesus wearing the half his coat. Martin then left the army and entered religious life and became a Benedictine monk. Then he was appointed bishop of Tours.
In line with the generosity of Saint Martin, Saint Ambrose of the city of Milan once said in his sermon, that the stomachs of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the valuable treasures that will last forever. Helping them is indeed a treasure that opens our way to heaven. God will bestow abundant graces to those who are generous for those in need. The ten lepers that are presented in the Gospel today belong to this category of the needy. They asked to be healed, just as poor people ask for money or food.
This seeking for a relief is interesting for two significant reasons. The first is on the level of the economy of pastoral which deals with corporal gain through the works for supporting the needy ones. A compassionate heart that touches and restores one's life is more complete than begging for a particular healing. When we ask for a big relief or restoration, automatically some little pains and sickness are included in healing. That poor beggar indeed asked for something more than simply the coat of Martin. The 10 lepers asked that they be accepted, removed from the barriers of enmity, be understood, be forgiven of wrongdoing and be blessed by God. They really asked for a complete restoration and freedom.
And the second is an act of faith when we ask something to the right person who will give what we need, and that person is God. If it is not God in whom we ask for, it will be true that we would obtain only partial or imperfect healing. However, we truly believe in whom we ask for, namely the Lord, we are certain that what will come out from Him is all goodness and truth. He has all the compassion and healing graces. He provides restoration of body and soul at the same time. When we are sick or suffering, we should ask God for something more than just getting healed.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... Father Almighty, fill us with graces of mercy so that we can proclaim this grace with enthusiasm and openness to our neighbors. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...
