***
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
“Where are the other nine?”
What makes today’s Gospel so striking is the fact that the poor are the one’s causing the scandal. Normally it’s the religious elite, tax collectors, prostitutes, or generic sinners who offend Jesus.
But today it’s a group of outcasts, lepers who have spent their entire lives being judged by others, fearfully forced into isolation.
Out of compassion, the Lord does for them what they cannot do for themselves – he heals them. In a sense, he gives them new life. Now they can integrate into society, perhaps finding love and friendship for the first time since their youth.
***
These former lepers, now healed, have nothing to offer the Lord but a grateful heart. It’s all Jesus ever wants.
But shockingly, only one out of ten returns to thank him.
This does not mean that the other nine were bad people. Perhaps they were in a state of joyful shock, overwhelmed by their miraculous healing.
But they became too focused on themselves – on the gift they received – instead of the Giver, who had even more to offer them.
***
This is really the story of humanity. We all benefit from the Lord’s goodness. But how often do we return to thank him?
***
The Lord offered all of us new life – eternal life – when he washed away our sins in baptism. He continues to wash away our sins every time we approach him. He feeds us with his very Self in the Eucharist.
He strengthens us in time of trial and temptation. He guides our steps, listens to our prayers, fills our hearts with peace. He makes the sun rise daily and fills our land with plenty.
As the Psalmist says, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever.”
Like that single leper who returned to acknowledge Jesus, how might we thank him for all the good he’s done today?
***
***
Image credits: (1) indycrowe (2) Summer Setting, WordPress.com (3) Waverly Church of Christ