Wisdom 6:1-11 / Luke 17:11-19
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. (Abraham Lincoln)
But with power comes responsibilities; the greater the power, the greater the responsibility.
It is said that power corrupts a person. But the truth is that it is the person who corrupts the power given to him.
From whichever means the power is acquired, it will corrupt and become destructive if that person does not have the wisdom to use it.
The 1st reading is from the book of Wisdom, and it has this to say: Listen, kings and understand ... power is a gift to you from the Lord.
And with that comes the warning to govern wisely and justly, because strict scrutiny awaits those in power.
The 1st reading also used a very strong word - "despots" (a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way)
People become as such when they do not think or realize that power is a gift and they think that it is a right that they had acquired.
Similarly, in the gospel, the nine lepers who were cured might have thought that they deserved it because they took the trouble to go to Jesus and asked to be healed.
But only one came back to Jesus to give thanks. And even Jesus wondered what happened to those nine lepers who were cured.
We may not be in a position of great power or authority. But it is in our power to give thanks to God for His blessings. May we not neglect or forget to give thanks to God. Because it shows who we are and what kind of faith we have