The evidence for the presence of God and the Holy Spirit is very clear: the absence of malice, unkindness, hatred, quarrelling, and selfishness. If these negative things are present then we cannot claim to be walking in God's ways, regardless of how religious we might think ourselves to be. Our world today is a frightening, violent, and turbulent place. As Christians, we can make a real difference by being an oasis in the desert or the calm in the storm. Let us grow in kindness, gentleness, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, and hope. In other words, let us be people who are filled with God.

Ten lepers were healed but only one was so filled with joy that he was compelled to come back and thank Jesus. Were the other nine selfish or ungrateful? The one leper was probably the only one who really saw and understood just how gracious and kind God had been to him. He knew in his heart and soul that he was healed. The other nine were like so many of us - so locked in negativity, self-pity, or gloom that they did not really understand what had just happened. When we pray for healing or for some other grace, we need to be open to the various ways in which God will answer our prayer. When we have received the grace, let us let go of the past and move into a new and fresh life.