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
“Sure, Jesus, we’ll show ourselves to the priests so they can ridicule us for what we already know. We’re sinful creatures and our skin is rotting off because of it.” That may have been the lepers’ internal response to Jesus’ suggestion. But they went anyway. The risk was enormous. Would they be arrested, stoned or received with mercy by the priests? With extraordinary faith they did as the Master directed.
On Thanksgiving Day, many of us in the United States will feast with family and friends after devoutly bowing our heads in thanks and praying for the less fortunate. Or perhaps we will help reach out to those in need.
These are good, admirable things. But what would we be doing if we had the faith of the ten? If we were called to risk ridicule and shame, how could our gratitude for Christ’s gift find expression in the world?
Prayer
Merciful God, forgive our lack of faith in our daily lives. Inspire us to seek out the powerful, testing their mercy and challenging our faith. Amen.