THE THANKFUL LEPER

 

Monday, May 6, 2024

 

THE THANKFUL LEPER

 

Luke 17:12-18

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

 

          All ten lepers were condemned to die because of their leprosy. It was, in those days, incurable and lethal. It separated one from family and from society and doomed the victim to a lonely existence in colonies of likewise miserable ones. Leprosy caused one to be self-conscious and self-focused.

 

           Mercy was extended without consideration of privilege. One leper did not have the religious background of the other nine. Perhaps he had felt more isolated than the others. All stood afar off but perhaps this one was shunned by the others. Misery loves company but privilege clings tenaciously to privilege. Jesus healed and cleansed them all.

 

          Leviticus chapter 14 explains the rules or laws of leper cleansing. The priest took the leper “out of the camp” and examined him. If the leper seemed to have been cleansed, he was to take cedar [emblematic of the door post], scarlet [a symbol of the blood] and hyssop [recalling the Passover]. Two clean sacrificial birds were used. One would die and the other would be sprinkled with blood and released.

 

          One leper saw all the symbols of Passover in the person of Jesus. He returned to give thanks.

 

Luke 17:19

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

 

Lord, forgive me for my attitudes of entitlement and privilege. Forgive also my self-focus. Thank you for cleansing and healing. AMEN