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|■■■□■■■■■□■■| Luke 17:11-19
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.”
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Perhaps it feels a bit odd to hear a Gospel for Thanksgiving that focuses on an act of healing performed by Jesus. But the more I have pondered this Gospel, knowing that I would be proclaiming this as we celebrate the day our culture calls Thanksgiving, the more fitting this Gospel came to be in my mind. Tonight's celebration calls us not simply to the fact that Jesus healed ten lepers. In this context in which we hear this Gospel, the Spirit longs for us to focus on the response of one of those ten who is healed by Jesus of his leprosy. This man's story, specifically his response to Jesus, is a powerful witness for us.
The power of his witness is amplified by one short sentance in Luke's account of this healing moment. Luke shares this reflection:
"And he was a Samaritan."
We can easily forget how shocking this would have been to those followers of Jesus who had been raised as Jews first who became Christians. The Jews thought that the Samaritans were helpless and hopeless causes. They believed that this lower class of people were incapable of doing "the right thing." And yet it is this one, this Samaritan, who returns to Jesus to give thanks for the gift of being healed. He shares his thanks and his joy for the great gift he has received.
We cannot fully appreciate how great of a gift that this was that Jesus gave to this man. Leprosy not only afflicted the body. This disease cut off those who suffered from the disease from everone who did not have this illness. They had no place in society, nor in their families. In healing this man, Jesus gives him far more than simply the restoration of his physical health. He gives him his life back, in every aspect of his life.
Tonight, as we hear the story of the leper healed who rejoices in Christ and gives thanks to God, we hear a story that ought to inspire us to go and do likewise. We are a people who have received blessing upon blessing. We have much for which to give thanks.
And how do we respond to these gifts, and to the giver of all these good gifts? This is an important question for us as Christians in this culture in which the Spirit has planted us to consider. We live among a people who look far more like the other nine in this Gospel. It has become fashionable to talk about the "War on Christmas." And yet I tell you that I believe firmly that the true culture war that is being waged and gets little attention is the war not on the day of Thanksgiving but the very spirit of giving thanks. Our culture has simply decided that this is old-fashioned and out of touch with reality, an unnecessary act.
As Christians, we are called to be different. We are to be those who act differently, who pause to give thanks especially when all others choose not to do so. Tonight I invite you to join me in giving thanks for all that we have. And know that I say that not merely because tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. We should be thankful on each day.
Today I give thanks for so many people, especially those with whom I have shared all my days. Perhaps I do so more these days because of the fact that my parents have all gone to their eternal reward. I have been gifted two sets of parents. I have a long list of persons whom I love but see no longer. I know that I am not alone in this. Remember that long list of persons whom we commended to Christ on the Feast of All Saints, a list that has grown in these recent days. We have homes in which to live, persons whom we love, a beautiful church in which to gather, a loving family who gathers in this place. We are richly blessed! Tonight, as we make Eucharist, as we return again to Christ, let us remember to pause and give thanks, as once the Samaritan returned to Jesus with great joy that exceeds the ability of mere words.
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Father Timothy Alleman, Rector
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