March 19, 2021

March 19, 2021

12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” – Luke 17:12-19

I’ve said it before, but I always feel it is worth repeating.  Luke, being a converted Greek physician loves to focus on the foreigner, the outcasts, the non-Jewish as receiving the kingdom of God.  Luke’s focus is as such because he is one. Luke has no birth qualification to inherit the kingdom of God through the Messiah, however, he has believed in Jesus, and received the Holy Spirit. His gospel account is to help others like himself know and realize that they too can have salvation through Christ.

Jesus, still on his journey towards Jerusalem, somewhere between Samaria and Galilee is approached by a group of lepers. We might assume he has passed near a leper colony for so many to be together. Lepers did often live in community to help one another, as they would have been considered unclean and unable to stay in society.  These lepers must have heard about Jesus, because they approach him, but they are noble to keep their distance because they knew they were unclean. Jesus never touches them, he simply speaks to them from a safe distance, and they are told to show themselves to the priests as clean.  It is on their way that they become clean, simply by their faith, and the power of Jesus.  

For so many who still long to return to the faith community, I hope this message would be a relief, for we are strengthened by the community, but in times when we must be absent the power of the Holy Spirit is still uniting us and bringing healing to our weary souls.  What an amazing God to connect us in such a way!

The second lessons is this, when discovering they had been made clean, only one, the Samaritan (the foreigner) returns shouting praise to God.  All have been made clean, but few give glory to God.  This lesson reminds us that while God’s blessings are meant for all, only few will give praise to God for what God has done.  May we be among the few, that whether we are able to return to the community, or continue to worship from a distance, we would shout praises to God for God has immensely blessed us.

Grace & Peace,
Sam