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
As lepers, these ten would have been pushed out of their communities as unclean. Yet with each other they had a little community together. Leprosy and necessity bound them together; whether they were Samaritans or not made little difference.
In this story as in many others in Jesus' ministry, Jesus is not just healing the physical disease. When the lepers are healed from their disease, they can also be restored to their communities. And if they can return to their communities—where will the Samaritan go? Where will he go if the community of belonging he has known (his fellow lepers) won't hold together now without the disease to unite them? Where can he go except to the one who made him well? Yet Jesus' welcome goes even one step further. He receives the Samaritan with telling words, "Your faith has made you well." There is more to be healed than just leprosy; there is more that aches than just a disease. There is an ache for others, an ache best soothed and expressed with a thankful heart.
Prayer
Healing God, you bring us to new life each day. Unite our communities to be places of healing, love and acceptance. We are thankful for your grace. Amen.