As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"And when he saw them, he said,"Go show yourselves to the priests."As they were going they were cleansed.And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.He was a Samaritan.Jesus said in reply,"Ten were cleansed, were they not?Where are the other nine?Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;your faith has saved you."
REFLECTION
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
Emily Post was an author, novelist and socialite who wrote books on etiquette. Most of us are aware of her famous Book of Etiquette. There is a section in her book on how to receive a gift, emphasizing that all gifts must be acknowledged. Somehow this art of thanksgiving has been lost throughout the years and the giver is left wondering if the person ever received the gift. We can express our appreciation in person (which is the best), in a phone call, in an email, or a handwritten note. Most important is our gratitude. The leper in the time of Jesus had no other option to thank Jesus other than in person. And in person He did.
A reminder about Samaria. Samaritans were not well liked by the Jewish people. Lepers were definitely despised and scorned. Combine that with a double dose of humiliation and being a Samaritan and you have a life not tenable. They were experiencing their own crosses. Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem to His own Cross, travelled through Samaria, a land Jews refused to travel. Jesus was in search for souls that no one wanted.
God always wants justice and goodness for us. In the tribulations and torments of their lives, the lepers pleaded with Jesus to have pity on them. And Jesus responded with mercy. The gentleness and meekness of Jesus was before their eyes. But only one responded with gratitude, And one of them, realizing he had been healed,returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
Do we thank God only when we receive something or will we forget tomorrow the good which we received today? Do we expect to have our prayers answered and therefore not show appreciation as we get too accustomed to answered prayers and the comfort they bring? We should, at all times, with genuine devotion and sheer love for Him follow Him in both the good and the bad times. Follow His example, and by all means, thank Him always, thank His holy will.
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