Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Luke 17:19
Jesus changed the leper’s life forever. Jesus gave the leper a new life in Him. He cleansed him from his uncleanness. But more than anything, he gave the wounded man the gift of salvation. There is nothing that can surpass eternal life. Why would anyone want to reject Jesus’ invitation to be with him for all of eternity?
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Mark 8:36
Think about eternity. With our finite minds we often underestimate it.
Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. Sirach 18:10
Think about whoever you assume has it all in life. Fame, fortune, power, elite status…Jesus warns us that “having it all” is not a good deal. It’s like a sparkling soap bubble that floats around aimlessly in the air and eventually pops into nonexistence.
What could one give in exchange for his life? Mark 8:37
Where do we stand in the test of faith? Are we willing to take a stand for Jesus?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
Due to their dreaded disease, the ten lepers stood at a distance. I am curious to know why ten? The passage suggests nine of the lepers were Jews and one was a “foreigner.”
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Luke 17:18
When God asks us a question, we should listen. We should contemplate. We should wonder. Have you ever wondered at times if God really loves you?
If you wonder how much God loves you, look at a crucifix. – St. Thomas Aquinas
This is the only time the word “foreigner” is used in the New Testament, and the word came forth from God. The foreigner was a Samaritan. He was not a Jew. He was not allowed in the Jewish temple. Maybe we sometimes feel like this with our personal relationship with God, as if there is a barrier between us and his divine presence.
The Word who became all things for us is close to us, our Lord Jesus Christ, who promises to remain with us always. – St. Athanasius
If the cross did not represent victory in Christ then I would think a runner-up should be a sledge hammer, or a sharp two-edged sword. Jesus is the one who again and again breaks down barriers in the Gospels. If there is a barrier holding you back into communion with Christ, rest assured, Jesus can break down that barrier with the breath of his mouth. At every Mass, Jesus offers up His body to be broken for us at the altar. All barriers of sickness and sin are broken and Christ’s love shines through.
On the Lord’s day, when you have been gathered together, break bread and celebrate the Eucharist. – From an ancient document entitled ‘The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles’
Do you know who the foreign leper symbolizes? He symbolizes you and me!
And foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, To love the name of the LORD, to become his servants— All who keep the sabbath without profaning it and hold fast to my covenant,
Them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:6-7
This account in Luke’s Gospel was the first “handshake of mercy” between God and the Gentiles. Even though standing at a distance, the Samaritan reached out to Jesus with his heart, asking for mercy. Jesus responded in kind by reaching out his hand, even if only figuratively, but a miracle is a miracle. The man was healed inside and out.
And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. Luke 17:14
What can we learn from the wounded leper? I say “wounded” because it wasn’t just that he was rendered “unclean” by leprosy, which would have been awful enough. But he was also wounded spiritually inside from his own physical malady. He was ostracized from society. A Gentile Samaritan, a leper, he was without question, banned from the Jewish temple. The man was suffering. He was hurting inside.
Have you ever hurt inside?
Are you a member of the walking wounded?
It’s a secret society made up of millions of people.
Heal me, LORD, that I may be healed; save me, that I may be saved, for you are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14
There is a formula here. The Samaritan gives us a model to follow in our spiritual life.
The foreigner stood at a distance from Jesus, but he was facing him. When you are facing Jesus in your life, think of all the sins and selfishness you are no longer facing.
He raised his voice to Jesus. This decision was made from the depths of his heart. When we reach out to Jesus with our hearts, Jesus will respond with mercy.
The righteous cry out, the LORD hears and he rescues them from all their afflictions. Psalms 34:18
Also, the Samaritan foreigner made a courageous effort to approach Jesus and thank him for his mercy with sincere gratitude in his heart.
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. Luke 17:15-16
Thanks be to God! The Lord does very much appreciate our gratitude.
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?” Luke 17:17-18
But most of all, it was the Samaritan’s faith in Jesus’ divine authority that made him right with God. Without faith in Jesus, how could we ever expect to receive his mercy?
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Luke 17:19
Let us go forth with the Gospels as our guide. With divine praises on our lips and faith in our hearts, let us take a stand for the Church God has given us. May our humble prayers provide testimony of our faith in Christ to an unbelieving world.
Prayer stands before God as an honored ambassador. It gives joy to the spirit and peace to the heart – St. John Chrysostom