104. Ten Lepers

On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men who were lepers met him, and stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God loudly. He knelt before Jesus, thanking him; and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, “Weren’t there ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Did none return to give glory to God except this stranger?” Jesus said to him, “Get up. Go your way. Your faith has healed you.”

Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s kingdom doesn’t come with observation; neither will they say, ‘Look, it is here!’ or, ‘Look, it is there!’ because God’s kingdom is in your midst.”

Reflection

The cleansing of ten lepers was a sign of God’s kingdom. Another sign was the fact that one of the lepers was a Samaritan who came back to give God thanks. God’s kingdom was for all people, not just for Jews. Do you have trouble seeing God’s grace and true faith in other religious traditions? Who do you see as Samaritans (people of ‘wrong’ religions) in our own world? 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the breadth of your grace and the depth of your kingdom.