Focus
Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.
Read
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Reflect
In our story today Christ heals ten lepers. The text does not mention the racial or ethnic make-up of the group, but we can surmise that there were foreigners, Samaritans, and Jews. If all of these groups were healthy, then they probably wouldn’t be hanging around together. They would have stayed in their own groups, but leprosy strips away all the things that divided them. Jews who had leprosy were outcasts’, Gentiles who had leprosy were cast out, Samaritans who had leprosy were cast out. None of them would be welcome in society for fear of spreading that horrible disease. All ten come to Jesus for healing and all are healed, yet only one, the foreigner gave thanks to their healer. The one who had no knowledge of the compassion of the Messiah showed gratitude. The one least likely to worship is the one that gave praise. We never know someone’s heart by looking at their skin.
What do you expect of people?
Pray
God, we read your words and so often encounter the very opposite of what we would expect. Many saw Samaritans as horrible and unclean but you encounter Samaritans and see in them their kindness as shown to strangers and gratitude for healing. May we look for you in all that we meet. Amen.
Go with God!
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