God doesn't care if you're great or small in the eyes of the world. Today's first reading from Wisdom 6 tells us, "For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends."
In today's Gospel passage from Luke 17, Jesus heals ten lepers. Only one returns to thank him, and that one was a Samaritan. And Jesus asks, "Where are the other nine?"
Have you ever considered that? What happened to the other nine? It can be very easy for us to judge them as ingrates. But that would be jumping to conclusions. Perhaps they were so excited about their healing that it didn't occur to them to go back and thank Jesus. Maybe some went directly to their families and got swept up in a great celebration. Maybe some were skeptical that the healing was genuine. Whatever the stories were, we must always remember to give thanks for our healings and blessings.
Father, may we always be grateful, and remember to express our gratitude to you. Amen.
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I appreciate your comment against considering the 9 as ingrates. I see the answer to the question “Where are the other nine?” as — they are doing what Jesus told them to do. They are showing themselves to the priests. That will allow them to become part of their families and neighborhoods and the Temple again.
Jesus asks his disciples: “Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" First, I note that if this Samaritan had continued with the other 9 to show himself to the priests, the priests would not have let him near them. He was a Samaritan! Jews would not go near a Samaritan.
The important teaching point is next: “Jesus said to man who had been cured, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.’"
Jews believed that salvation was a birthright. Only Jews could be saved! Here, Jesus teaches His disciples that salvation is not a birthright! All who have faith and fall at the feet of Jesus, glorifying God, will be saved regardless of the nationality of their birth!! Jesus made this very clear after His resurrection when he told the eleven: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (MK 16:15-16)
Thanks be to God!!!