Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)
Read Luke 17:11-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. Verse 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, Verse 13they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Verse 14When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Verse 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. Verse 16He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Verse 17Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Verse 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Verse 19Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Devotion
American presidents have grown fond of closing off their speeches with the words, “God bless America!” For some religious zealots the repetition of these words has become a litmus test of faith. But has this public invocation become hollow?
One day as Jesus traveled along he came upon ten lepers; outcast members of society. They implored him to have mercy on them. Jesus heard their plea, had mercy on them, and he healed them. But when they discovered they were healed only one leper, a Samaritan, a double outcast in Jewish society, returned to give Jesus thanks.
On this Thanksgiving Day, even in the midst of economic woes and threats to our national security from within and without, we have opportunity to return to give God thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us as a nation and as individuals. Like the Samaritan, our thanksgiving becomes an expression of faith, and it has power to make us well.
If we ask God “to bless us” or as the lepers did “to have mercy on us” we had better be prepared to give God thanks.
Prayer
Lord God, we have asked for your blessings and mercy. You have heard and granted our requests. Help us always to be ready to respond with grateful and thankful hearts. Amen.