God is Still Restoring Hearts

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

Reading 1 Titus 3:1-7

Beloved:
Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities,
to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.
They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate,
exercising all graciousness toward everyone.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded,
slaves to various desires and pleasures,
living in malice and envy,
hateful ourselves and hating one another.

But when the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
he saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1b-3a, 3bc-4, 5, 6

R.    (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R.    The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

 

 

Alleluia 1 Thessalonians 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

God is Still Restoring Hearts

November 12, 2026 // Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Philemon 7-20

Reflect on the Word // 

At thirteen, my parents divorced, and I went to live exclusively with my mom. The loss of our family as I knew it deeply wounded my relationship with my dad, and for decades, distance remained between us. We lived in different states, and most of our communication happened through texts and emails. While I knew intellectually that my father loved me, for most of my life, I did not have the daily experiences that allowed me to truly feel that love.

Recently, I visited my dad for four days with one of my daughters. We shared meals, talked, and slowly reconnected. What surprised me were the quiet, thoughtful ways he cared for me. He filled the car with gas before I had the chance, gave me more money than I needed for parking “just in case,” and stood in the driveway each time we ventured out until our car disappeared from view. There were no difficult conversations or attempts to rewrite the past. Yet through those simple acts of love, I experienced something I had been missing for decades: the tender care of my father.

As I reflected on today’s First Reading, I found myself thinking about that visit with my dad. Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. He does not ask Philemon to ignore the past or pretend that nothing happened. Instead, he invites him to see Onesimus through the eyes of Christ—“no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (Philemon 16). While their relationship could not return to what it once was, through God’s mercy, it could become something new. Healing does not always arrive through dramatic moments. Sometimes it comes quietly, through softened hearts, small acts of kindness, and the slow restoration of trust.

My dear sisters, perhaps there is a relationship in your life marked by hurt or distance. If it feels too broken to hope for, entrust it to the Lord. While every story unfolds differently, God is still in the business of restoring hearts. His grace can create something new, even when the past remains unchanged.

Relate to the Lord // Is there a person that comes to mind when you think about forgiveness and restoration? Journal about it and ask the Lord–once again or for the first time–to have His way.

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