Luke, or the writer of this Gospel, has been talking about faith in Luke 17. That we should live a life of faith where we may repeatedly forgive others. It isn’t a bought commodity, it is that desire to return to when we struggle with life, that common thread that keeps us going. A thread that crosses borders, just like compassion does not have borders.
Where are we?
Jesus is on his travels towards Jerusalem – not sure where the disciples have gone, as they aren’t mentioned. He is in the border zone between Galilee and Samaria. Possibly he could feel the tension in the air. He was nearing the land where he was an outsider.
Samaritans worshipped at a different place Mount Gerizim, they were also despised amongst Jews. Read more about this here. The land of different genes. So what is important in this story?
Well, illness doesn’t stop at borders. We draw the line in the sand between people.
Lepers or Paralysed?
Ten lepers or more correctly paralysed men (more detail here)– they are still humans – stood at a safe separation. Or ten people who weren’t allowed to safely be part of the community. Or ten people who didn’t fit in with the others in the community. They should in essence be shouting out unclean – just like in the Monty Python films – but they seek this Jesus man… This could be like the Rich Man and Lazarus, separated by a chasm in the previous Chapter but where Lazarus needed the healing (Luke 16).
We might focus upon the medical issues, what is leprosy when there may be a broader message here for us. They needed to find healing, restoration to bring them back into the community.
“Go and see the Priests” – plural
The ten have gone off to visit the priests – what were they expecting? Were they thinking that they’d be sprinkled with holy water? Or given bread and wine? Or have a prayer said over them? A special blessing perhaps? What are your thoughts? When did they realise that they were cleansed? How far had they travelled before one had turned to the other and recognised that everything has changed for them?
Did they need to actually get to ‘meet with’ the Priest? What do you think?
Was it through their actions that they may be healed? In those days they were declared as ‘unclean’, not worthy of seeing the priest let alone going into the Synagogue. They would be violating the Law if they did that.
Upon healing they may have thought “I’m free!” now I go anywhere. And off they went. Well not all…
A Samaritan?
One of them is a Samaritan. This tale is one that would set the tongues wagging, just like the ‘Good Samaritan‘ story. He returns to Jesus. He in fact falls to the floor in front of Jesus. Oh that separation has now gone. He feels that there is something more than just ‘actions’ a process, it’s deeper. The foreigner, the outsider, is deemed the hero of faith.
They, as an individual, return to worship Jesus. It’s more than saying thank yous – plural.
So what happened?
Your faith has made you well. No Jesus it was me visiting the Priest…oh what? The faith of a Samaritan has made me well?
A few pointers:
- People may not respond positively to any help we offer them. Give it anyway.
- It is not about what we do but what is in their heart which matters.
- That’s not for our judgement either.
The Gospel writer is certainly not suggesting that the faith in church truths have given you life, access to be with the Father.
For us as Methodists Faith is not a movement it is a way of life. It was the faith of this person entwined with his actions that led to a closer walk with God. The faith expressed here is very much part of this person’s life. It was a natural response to thank God.
And that foreigner?
The foreigner, the outsider, the castout, was thankful for being cured of a dis-ease. They were thankful for being present in those circumstances and to be part of God’s continuing solution to that issue. The community could celebrate as they were together.
As with illness, compassion does not have borders.
So all ten were healed AND we have seen that inclusion is present: Judeans and Samaritans healed, restored. There’s a great story for today…
I found the dialogue interesting and I enjoyed it