Saying Thank You

  "Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19

I love this story.  It is a story of 10 men who are suffering.  They are outcasts from the community.  They have a "right" to have little hope.  They ask Jesus for pity.  Jesus sends them to the priests and heals them as they went.  In those days, leprosy victims could not return home until the priests gave them permission.  As lepers, they could never be with their families again.  Once they were cleansed and healed, approved by the priests, they could have their lives back.  They could live with their families and their communities.

I do not enjoy knowing that any of us are outcasts or suffer from leprosy.  Many of us know people who are outcasts, sick and left alone or we have felt like outcasts.  Jesus is the story of God on earth.  He heals and gives us hope.  These men were healed and given a new life.  Through Jesus, we all can have a second chance.  We can turn to Him and no longer be outcasts - whether it be on this earth or in heaven - Jesus hears us and cleanses us.

The author Luke felt it was significant enough to point out that the lone man who returned to praise God and express his gratitude was a Samaritan.  A Samaritan was the outcast or enemy of the Jews.  Yet, this Samaritan returned, praised God and gave his thanks.  Who do we hold as enemies in our lives today?  Do we need to give our love to someone as Jesus gave His?  I believe we know the answer is yes.

Jesus told the returning man that "your faith has made you well."  I want to be the one who returns to express thanks.  I want to be the one whose faith makes me well.  I hope that we all can be like he.  Remember, even when life is not fair, we have the promise of eternity from our Lord and Savior. Keep your hope.  Keep your faith.  It isn't easy - I can't imagine how the lepers must have felt about their lives and their futures.

I ask today for Jesus, my Master to have pity on me - on all of us.  I ask that we will have faith in Him to receive his blessing.  When He cleanses us I pray that we will return to Him, praise Him and give him thanks!  Amen.