Sunday in service we listened to the story of the ten lepers healed by Christ (Luke 17:11-19). Jesus has set his path towards Jerusalem. This path will lead to the culmination of his ministry, his mission, and God's will. He takes the straight path and goes through Samaria. On the way he encounters 10 lepers. They shout out from afar "Jesus, master, have mercy on us!" They know they must keep their distance as prescribed by the law lest they taint healthy people of the community. They represent the cast-away. Jesus gives them the order to show themselves to the priests (as prescribed by the law, see Leviticus). They obey and on their way they are cleansed. One of them returns praising and thanking God and fallis in homage at Jesus' feet. Jesus questions the whereabouts of the other nine. (This has always intrigue me, as they were following his instructions) As I contemplated this I can only understand it as this one recognizes God's presence not only in the temple they are travelling to and its requisite priests but he recognizes God's presence in Jesus himself. A parenthetical note almost is the sentence that simply states "He was a Samaritan." And Jesus says "Was no one except this foreigner thankful enough to return and give praise to God?" In so many ways this is the true Gentile message that Luke so often epitomizes. The outcast of the outcasts, the friendless among the friendless, the least of the least! There was no expectation that this Samaritan would do the right thing, yet in the presence of God in Christ he does just that. Jesus declares to him "Go on your way, your faith has made you well!" This poses another interesting question...all ten were healed...all ten were cleansed, but this one was made well. Is there a difference? Again as I ponder this, I can only say that although the others recognized their being cast aside physically, this one recognized also a spiritual distance, a spiritual wound. His coming to Jesus not only heals him on the outside setting up his ability to return to the human community, but Jesus heals his soul, bringing (without any ritual in the temple) him into communion with God. He now has well-being because he simply believed in the very presence of God in Christ. That same healing and well-being is offered to us in Christ. And like the healed and thankful leper we are told by Christ: "Go on your way". Follow the path God has set before you and on that path be awed at God's presence all around you! And when you find someone hurt and broken, suffering and tormented by the ways of the world, declare to them the Gospel, Jesus has died for you, you can be healed, you can have well-being! Amen