Faith and Family for October 9: The Cleansing of Ten Lepers

READ Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.

As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.

They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"

And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests."

As they were going they were cleansed.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not?

Where are the other nine?

Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

UNDERSTAND

by Father Greg Friedman, OFM

I need to make a resolution to send thank-you notes. When people do me a favor I’m always very grateful, and I have the best of intentions of sitting down and writing a note when I get home to say “thanks.” And then something usually distracts me, and before I know it weeks have gone by, or I see the person and remember that I never did send that note.

Today’s Gospel ought to give me a renewed incentive to be thankful. In the story Jesus cures ten lepers; only one returns to give thanks. That one is—surprise—a Samaritan. Well, the surprise is probably more appropriate for Jesus’ original audience than for us: Samaritans and Jews did not get along.

When Luke put this story together from his sources, there was much more of a punch. In the following verses not read in church today, some in his audience ask when the Kingdom will be coming. Jesus tells them they’ve missed the signs; people like the Samaritan in the story have recognized the Kingdom’s presence and given thanks.

Luke would have us heed the words of Jesus: The Kingdom is in our midst, but we truly appreciate it only if we walk with Christ in his suffering and death. By embracing his way of the cross we welcome the Kingdom.

DISCUSS

by Father Dan Kroger, OFM • In the first reading, Naaman the leper is cured after he obeys the word of Elisha. He wants to give a gift to Elisha in gratitude for his help. Did Elisha take any gift from Elisha?

What does Naaman ask of Elisha? Why? • The second reading recounts Paul saying he is suffering “to the point of chains” for the sake of the Gospel.

Paul reminds Timothy that the word of God is not chained, and he says that he “bears with everything for the sake of those who are chosen.” Why? “If we have died with him (Christ) we shall also live with him.” Do you believe that is true?

• Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem when he met 10 lepers who asked for his help. What did Jesus tell the lepers to do?

What happened to them as they were going to the priests?

Jesus was surprised that only one of them came back to thank him. Where was that man from?

ACT

by Susan Hines-Brigger • Send a thank-you note to someone who has done something nice or helpful for you. It's always a good thing to show your gratitude. • Make a list of all the things in your life for which you are grateful. When you are done, reflect on the list and incorporate it into a prayer of gratitude to God.