Opening — The Gift of Another Morning
There is something remarkable about the first light of morning. It arrives without asking whether we deserve it. The sun rises upon the grateful and the ungrateful alike, upon those who have slept peacefully and those who have spent the night in worry.
Most mornings, we accept this extraordinary generosity without much thought. We open the curtains, pour the coffee, and begin considering the day’s obligations. The miracle of another morning is quickly overtaken by the business of living through it.
Today the Church remembers Saint Martin of Tours, a soldier who became a bishop and whose most famous act of charity involved nothing more complicated than sharing his cloak with a freezing stranger. In the United States, Veterans Day also invites us to remember those who have served and sacrificed for others.
And in today’s Gospel, ten men receive a miraculous healing. Nine continue on their way. One turns around.
Perhaps the most important journey we make this morning will be the short journey back to say thank you.
Opening Verse
Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth shall declare thy praise.
Invitatory — Psalm 94 (95)
Antiphon: Come, let us adore Christ, the Good Shepherd, who calls his people to holiness.
Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.
For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.
For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:
As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart.
And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: Come, let us adore Christ, the Good Shepherd, who calls his people to holiness.
Psalmody
First Psalm — Psalm 62 (63):2–9
The Soul Thirsting for God
Antiphon: Saint Martin, faithful shepherd, rejoice in the kingdom prepared by the Father.
O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways!
In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.
For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips shall praise.
Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will lift up my hands.
Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.
If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning:
Because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings:
My soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: Saint Martin, faithful shepherd, rejoice in the kingdom prepared by the Father.
Old Testament Canticle — Daniel 3:57–88, 56
All Creation Blesses the Lord
Antiphon: With steadfast faith and a heart lifted toward heaven, Martin praised the Lord.
All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye sons of men, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire.
Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: With steadfast faith and a heart lifted toward heaven, Martin praised the Lord.
Second Psalm — Psalm 149
A New Song of Praise
Antiphon: Let the saints rejoice in glory, and let the faithful praise the Lord.
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.
For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.
The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds.
The high praise of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged swords in their hands:
To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the people:
To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron.
To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is to all his saints. Alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: Let the saints rejoice in glory, and let the faithful praise the Lord.
Short Reading — Hebrews 13:7–8
Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,
Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever.
Short Responsory
Lord, teach us to remember thy mercies.
And to proclaim thy goodness with grateful hearts.
Lord, teach us to remember thy mercies.
And to follow the example of thy faithful servants.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Lord, teach us to remember thy mercies.
Gospel of the Day — Luke 17:11–19
The Healing of the Ten Lepers
And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off;
And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us.
Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean.
And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.
And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan.
And Jesus answering, said: Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine?
There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger.
And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.
Benedictus — Luke 1:68–79
The Canticle of Zachary
Antiphon: Blessed are those who return to the Lord with thanksgiving and follow him in faithful service.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon: Blessed are those who return to the Lord with thanksgiving and follow him in faithful service.
Intercessions
Let us turn to Christ, whose mercy restores the suffering and whose love calls us to gratitude.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For the Holy Father, bishops, priests, deacons, and all who shepherd thy people: may they follow Saint Martin in humility, courage, and generous service.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For our nation and all nations: may those entrusted with authority seek justice, protect the vulnerable, and pursue an enduring peace.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For veterans, for those who serve today, and for families who have borne the burdens of military service: grant them peace, healing, friendship, and the gratitude of their communities.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For those who work with their hands and minds, those seeking employment, and those whose labor goes unnoticed: may their work be honorable, fruitful, and justly rewarded.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For our homes and families, especially those divided by distance, grief, misunderstanding, or loneliness: restore affection, patience, and the willingness to forgive.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For the sick, the poor, the displaced, and all who feel themselves standing at a distance from others: send them comfort, companionship, and the help they need.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For the faithful departed, especially those who have died in the service of others: grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
For ourselves: may we not become so accustomed to thy blessings that we forget the One from whom they come.
Lord, make our hearts grateful.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
O God, whose mercy reaches those who call upon thee, and whose love is made visible in the charity of thy saints, grant us the grateful heart of the Samaritan and the generous spirit of Saint Martin.
May we recognize thy gifts without presumption, receive thy grace without pride, and share thy blessings without hesitation.
Remember in thy goodness those who have served their country, those who suffer from the wounds of war, and all who labor for peace.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
The Paradox of the Day
Ten men received the gift of healing, but the one who turned back discovered the Giver.
Chesterton for the Morning
G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy (1908), Chapter IV, “The Ethics of Elfland”:
“I had always felt life first as a story: and if there is a story there is a story-teller.”
Verified against Orthodoxy, Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg
A Chestertonian Meditation
The Man Who Turned Around
There is something wonderfully peculiar about a thank-you note.
It is one of the few things in life that accomplishes nothing practical and yet accomplishes something enormously important.
A bill pays a debt. A receipt proves a transaction. An invoice establishes an obligation. But a thank-you note acknowledges something that cannot quite be reduced to any of these things.
It acknowledges a gift.
The difference is considerable. A man who pays for his dinner may leave the restaurant believing that the account is settled. A man who has been invited to dinner at a friend’s house may leave feeling that something remains, not because he owes money, but because he has received kindness.
The first transaction ends with payment. The second begins a friendship.
This is part of the extraordinary mystery of gratitude: it turns things into relationships.
In today’s Gospel, ten lepers stand at a distance from Jesus. Their condition has separated them from ordinary society, from familiar company, and perhaps from much that once made their lives recognizable.
They cry out for mercy.
Jesus tells them to show themselves to the priests. And while they are going, they are healed.
The miracle is magnificent. Ten men who had lived with the terrible limitations of disease suddenly find themselves restored.
One can imagine their excitement. One can imagine the hurried footsteps, the astonished examinations of hands and faces, the almost unbelievable realization that they might return to ordinary life.
There would be families to see. Houses to enter. Work to resume. Meals to share. An entire world, formerly closed, had opened again.
Nine continued forward.
One turned around.
We should be careful not to invent motives for the nine. Saint Luke does not tell us that they were wicked men. They may have been overwhelmed with joy. They may have been eager to obey the instruction Jesus had given them. They may have been thinking of the people they loved.
But the Gospel deliberately draws our attention to the one who returned.
He was a Samaritan, a stranger to those who might have expected to be first in recognizing God’s work.
He came back praising God, and fell at the feet of Jesus in thanksgiving.
The remarkable thing is that his return was not necessary to complete the physical healing. The miracle had already occurred.
He came back because he understood something beyond the miracle.
He understood that he had encountered someone.
This is the difference between being grateful for something and being grateful to someone.
We can be grateful for sunshine, for good health, for a safe journey, or for a warm house. But Christianity invites us to carry gratitude beyond the things themselves.
The world is not merely a collection of fortunate circumstances. It is creation.
And creation, as Chesterton saw so vividly, suggests not merely an arrangement but an Author.
Chesterton’s image of life as a story with a storyteller is especially appropriate here. A character in a story may be delighted to discover a door, a road, or a surprising treasure. But a character who discovers the storyteller has entered a different kind of adventure.
The Samaritan did not merely receive an improvement in his circumstances. He turned toward the source of mercy.
And that made all the difference.
Today the Church remembers Saint Martin of Tours.
The famous story of Martin dividing his cloak with a freezing beggar is almost comically simple. It involves no great institution, no elaborate program, no magnificent building, and no complicated strategy.
There is a cold man.
There is a soldier with a cloak.
And there is a sword.
The sword, which might ordinarily be associated with violence, becomes an instrument of charity. Martin divides his cloak and gives half to the stranger.
It is difficult to imagine a more Chestertonian reversal.
The soldier is not less courageous because he shows compassion. His courage has found a nobler use.
The sword has not become useless. It has become unexpectedly useful.
And the poor man, who might appear to have nothing to offer, becomes the occasion of a spiritual discovery.
According to the traditional account, Martin later saw Christ wearing the portion of the cloak he had given away.
The beggar was not merely a beggar. The act of kindness had reached farther than Martin could see.
Here, too, gratitude and generosity meet.
The grateful man recognizes that he has received something he did not create. The generous man recognizes that what he possesses need not end with himself.
Both acts begin with a refusal to imagine that the whole world revolves around one’s own immediate interests.
And both require attention.
This may be our most serious difficulty.
We are often so occupied with the next thing that we scarcely notice the present thing. We hurry from breakfast to work, from work to errands, from errands to evening, and from evening to another morning.
The day becomes a series of destinations.
The nine lepers were going somewhere. The Samaritan was going somewhere too. But he interrupted his journey.
He turned around.
Perhaps this is one of the most useful spiritual disciplines we can practice: the deliberate interruption of our own momentum.
Not every interruption is an inconvenience.
Sometimes the interruption is the point.
A child wants to show us something. A neighbor stops to speak. Someone asks for help when we are already late. A familiar person offers an ordinary kindness.
We can treat these moments as obstacles between ourselves and the important business of the day.
Or we can wonder whether the important business of the day has just arrived.
Of course, gratitude does not require us to pretend that everything is pleasant.
There are people for whom this morning brings grief, illness, uncertainty, or exhaustion. There are veterans carrying memories that do not disappear when the ceremonies end. There are families who have paid dearly for sacrifices others may scarcely understand.
Christian gratitude is not a demand that suffering be called good.
It is the recognition that goodness may still be present in suffering, and that God’s mercy is not exhausted by the things we cannot understand.
The lepers cried for mercy before they could see any sign of healing.
Their prayer began in need.
And the Samaritan’s thanksgiving began when he recognized grace.
Both belong to the life of faith.
We need not manufacture cheerfulness. We may bring our sorrows to God as honestly as we bring our joys.
But we can also ask for the grace to notice what remains good.
The cup of coffee on the table.
The friend who telephones.
The hands that still permit us to work.
The familiar voice from another room.
The quiet road before sunrise.
The unexpected kindness of someone who had no obligation to be kind.
These are not trivial things. They are the ordinary furniture of a world that is astonishing precisely because it has become familiar.
We have seen a thousand mornings and may therefore suppose that another morning is nothing remarkable.
Chesterton would have us suspect the opposite.
The repetition is not evidence that the miracle has ceased. It may be evidence that the miracle is extraordinarily faithful.
The sun rises again.
The world is given again.
And we are invited to receive it again.
The Samaritan’s great act was not complicated. He did not compose a theological treatise or build a monument. He did not even travel to a distant place.
He simply turned around.
There is still time for us to do the same.
Before the day’s work gathers speed, before the messages arrive, before our attention is divided among a hundred legitimate concerns, we may turn toward the One who has given us this morning.
We may remember those who have served us.
We may notice those who need us.
We may say thank you.
And perhaps, in doing so, we shall discover that the greatest gift of the morning was never merely the morning itself.
It was the One who gave it.
Closing
Lord Jesus Christ, give us eyes to recognize thy gifts, hearts to receive them with humility, and hands ready to share them with others.
May we never be too hurried to return and give thanks.
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