Thoughts for the Day

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Our world is not very good at coping with physical imperfections, particularly of the face, whether caused by burns, or disease or accident. Many people shy away from those suffering such things, or else find their eyes cannot stop looking at them.

Jesus is apparently on his way north travelling through Samaria towards Galilee. He would have been accustomed to seeing groups of lepers begging for food, for once the disease was detected they were banished to live for ever outside society. As the disease ate away at their hands, feet, and face, they became pitiable creatures. This group have heard about Jesus and approach him asking for healing, though they keep their distance as proscribed by the law. We should notice:

• The healing of the lepers only appears in Luke's Gospel, which is consistent with his concern for outcasts.
• The one who returns is a Samaritan, and therefore hated by most Jews, (remember it is also Luke who gives us the story of the 'Good Samaritan').
• Jesus obeys the Law, by commanding the lepers to show themselves to the priests who will declare them 'clean'.
• Jesus attributes the lepers' healing to their faith.

We put our injuries in the hands of doctors and surgeons and rightly so, but we need to remember to have real faith in God who will work with them, and above all to thank God for the outcome.

Heavenly Father,
whenever we need help in our life
and involve specialists to sort things out,
may we remember that You
also have our back
and that You are there
to enable those specialists
to work for our good.
So when troubles come
may we turn to You
at the same time as we look
for external help.
Amen.