Nov 15 – Memorial for St. Albert the Great, bishop, religious, doctor
St. Albertus (1206-1280) was the son of a military nobleman. A Dominican priest, he taught theology at Colgone and Paris and was the teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas. He was an influential teacher, preacher, and administrator, and became the Bishop of Regensburg. He introduced Greek and Arabic science and philosophy to medieval Europe.
He is known for his wide interest in what became later known as the natural sciences – botany, biology, etc. He wrote and illustrated guides to his observations, and was considered on par with Aristotle as an authority on these matters. He was a theological writer, and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.
“It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man, and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell. If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for “God is Charity” (1 John 4:8)” – St. Albert the Great
Wis 6:1-11
Lk 17:11-19
“Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.”
It has been a year since we walked the Camino Ignatio, translated to mean the “way of St Ignatius”. For those who may not be aware of what this ‘way’ is, it traces the route St Ignatius of Loyola took as he journeyed from his hometown of Loyola to Manresa in Spain.
The night before we were going to set off on our walk, I suffered the reoccurrence of an old injury; a torn ligament in my right knee. Once triggered, my knee started swelling, with the pain immediately making its presence felt. I could not focus on anything other than the throbbing pain.
My first walk was excruciating (indeed, this could be said of all subsequent walks). I hobbled throughout the twenty-odd kilometres that day. Because of this pain, I ended up with the last person. Everyone had to wait for me as I struggled to keep up. No, ‘catch up’ is more apt a term. At every stop, the whole group waited as I came in. I had hoped to have some respite from the exertions. This was not to be, however, as we ended having to start again after a mere five minutes each time.
I was livid! Angry (and emotional) thoughts flooded my mind…
“Why can’t they wait longer so I can rest… don’t they see that I am in pain?”
“Seriously? Why are they so self-centred?”
“Why can’t those in front simply walk slower?”
All the joy and expectations I had carried with me had melted under the pain and the self-pity. I almost literally prayed, all the time, for the pain to be taken from me. That evolved to regrets; of being so silly as to beginning the pilgrimage.
As the days progressed, however, I found my thoughts shifting to other things. I began noticing the beauty surrounding me. I enjoyed the taste of the cool spring water that waited for me at every water point in the small Spanish towns we stopped at. The stories of St Ignatius and the other saints fascinated me and I loved sleeping in the same places that they had rested their heads.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about the ten persons affected by leprosy. In their desperation, they reach out to Jesus. Yet, nine out of the ten immediately forget that it was Jesus who had brought about their healing. While the gift (of healing) is important, the Giver is even more so.
The importance of gratitude, however, goes beyond simple attribution.
When one is focused solely on the gifts one receives, emotions rest in consistently receiving ‘good’ gifts. For the nine lepers focused only on themselves, it is likely that their faith would vacillate with the ‘gifts’. For the lone leper who recognised Jesus as the Giver (regardless of the gift), Jesus was the God who could be depended on, whatever the outcomes.
On this day, the day of my birthday, I am reminded that I need to learn from this lone person…to be able to live a life full of gratitude, with my eyes cast toward my God, who provides me with everything.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to go beyond ourselves and our immediate needs and pains. Teach us to live grateful lives consistently.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Father, for always being there for us, despite the many occasions when we continue to be self-centred. We are grateful that Your grace is given to us freely.
OXYGEN 
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