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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.’ (Luke 17:11-19)
Happy Thanksgiving Friday, dear Friend! I know this leaves me still feeling more stuffed than our turkey, but wonderfully blessed nonetheless; praying you enjoyed a good day as well. What most blessed you this year? Did you remember to give thanks to God and maybe to the person, if it was a person, as well?
This very familiar story made me sad as I read it twice. Sad because in that group of nine, The UnThankful Nine, could have been me. And as I write unthankful, I wonder if I should have called them, the Entitled Nine? Sad to now the nine were Jews; this thankful man was a Samaritan. All had been given a new lease on life, for Jesus had restored them all from a life among the dead. You will remember that to suffer from what was considered a very contagious disease kept them all away from regular people; the Law made them live among the tombs of the dead. Notice as they called out to Jesus "keeping their distance" for they were used to this life - stay away from those not sick like us! Jesus simply tells them to go and show themselves to their priests; for it was only the priest who could declare them clean. These first steps they took towards the priests made them whole. Then, it was only one, who "saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice." Can you imagine what he saw? He probably saw his hands healed first. The white marks of this dreaded skin disease forever his companion now gone! He must have picked up his robe and saw that his legs and feet, his stomach - all healed. He was indeed a new creature. "PRAISE GOD!" was his cry as it would have been yours and mine. He throws himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. It was important to Luke to point out that this man was not a Jew; though they shared a common belief in the same God, doctrinal differences as well as cultural and racial, made them so different. Jesus has to ask, and this makes me sad, too; "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?" A sense of entitlement, a "I deserved it! I am a Jew after all!" that blinded them to the simple but necessary act of saying, "Thank you." And that happens in so many places, even on the day set aside to give thanks. "We're Americans; we bought and cooked this turkey - We deserve it!" An attitude like that limits the reality of so many blessings that come our way.
This man, pronounced well by Jesus was well in so many ways that he left the nine behind. His faith was made stronger, his body was made new; his attitude towards life changed and as he finally walked away from Jesus he knew that he owed it all to God. I can only imagine the joy that was his as he walked towards his home. He wanted to see his family and hold them once again. Those initial touches with Jesus were beautiful, but now he wanted to hold those whom he had not held in so many years. Joy was his once again.
May this weekend find us again giving God thanks for ALL we have, whether we deserve them or not. We have two groups in which we can fall when we read this story; those who are truly and wonderfully thankful for all, or the group that felt it was long overdue and here at long last, their healing had come.
PRAYER: Loving Father, for all that You have shared with me and mine, I am thankful. Let me see all the blessings that have come from Your loving hands like never before. I want to enjoy all that is Yours for me. Increase my blessings as I set about to share them with others. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Give thanks in ways that make people realize they too, should be thankful!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Request: For Nellie and I as we travel this morning to Mission, Texas, where I will officiate a wedding this afternoon at 4:30. Prayers for the couple, our nephew David Ramirez, Jr., and his bride, Yasidi Ozuna. Thank you in advance!
