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.”
Every once in a while, the way you translate a word from the Greek in which the New Testament was originally written makes a significant difference. This is one of those times.
Notice that all ten are made well. All ten of the lepers, that is, did just what they were told – they went to the priests as Jesus commanded and along the way they were made well.
But one noticed. And, seeing what had happened, he turned back to give thanks. He simply could not continue without offering a word of gratitude.
Noticing – seeing – grace does that; it draws you beyond the confines of your usual and normal preoccupation with the details, challenges, and responsibilities of the day and lifts you outward, eager to connect with others, glad to offer thanks.
The line that was probably the most surprising to Jesus’ original audience was that the one who noticed and turned to give thanks was a Samaritan, one of those routinely despised by Jesus’ contemporaries. But the line that might puzzle us is the last one, when Jesus says, “your faith has made you well.”
Is he not already well?
Ah, but here is where the Greek comes in, as the word we translate “well” can also be translated “whole” and even “saved.” Your faith – that is, the act of noticing and responding to grace – has made you whole, has saved you from the ordinary and humdrum and the mundane and perhaps even the mortal and ushered you into a realm of grace and gratitude.
Noticing grace,
seeing goodness,
paying attention to healing,
stopping to take in blessing…
These are such small things…and yet make all the difference.
Prayer: Dear God, open our eyes to see the thousand blessings you shower upon us each and every day, that we also may live lives of gratitude and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Post image: “Ten Lepers Healed” by Brian Kershisnik
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