In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Luke 17. 12-19
At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’s feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him: “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Today we hear the account of the miraculous healing by Jesus of the ten lepers. So, it might surprise you to learn that none of these men suffered from leprosy – or at least not what we call leprosy today. Leprosy, generally referred to as Hansen’s disease today, was unknown in that time and place. As a result, scholars and scientists are agreed that these men, and others who are described as lepers in the Bible, did not suffer from leprosy.

They are also agreed that they cannot identify with any degree of certainty what disease it was that they did suffer from. However, it is clear from what Scripture itself tells us that it was some form of skin disease, perhaps many different types of skin diseases which were all lumped together. And, given the way that Scripture tells us that these individuals were to be treated, some of these diseases may well have been highly contagious.

I mention the above for the sake of accuracy; but I do not in any way to trivialise the suffering of these people. Once someone was identified as a leper they were considered unclean and cast out of society. This meant that they could not attend or take part in the religious festivals and services of their religion; and that they could not live or work in the cities, towns, or villages which had been their homes. They were reduced to living literally on the margins, hovering at a distance from any form of civilisation. And woe betide them if they didn’t have family or friends who were both willing and able to provide them with food and the other necessities of live, leaving such things out for them to collect. Then they had to hope that strangers would take pity on them and give them a few scraps of food if they could afford to.

So, when Jesus healed these men, He did something truly amazing for them. He had given them their lives back. Now they could return to their families, their friends and neighbours, their work, and their synagogues. They had gone in a moment from being unclean, outcasts, to be being normal ordinary men again. Little wonder that Jesus remarks on the fact that only one out of the ten returns to Him to express gratitude and give glory to God.

And, as He points out, this man was a Samaritan, a stranger. Why is that significant? Well, as the Fathers tell us, God had done so much for Jews down through the years. They were His chosen people. If anyone should have returned to give glory to God for their miraculous healing, it should have been them, the nine rather than the one stranger. But they did not.

But before we rush to condemn the behaviour of the nine, we would do well, I suggest, to consider how our own behaviour seems in comparison. We have so much to be grateful for from God; do we show it? Do we even acknowledge that we have reason to be grateful? My late father, memory eternal, used to say, when asked how he was doing today, invariably replied that any day above ground was a good day. There’s a lot of wisdom in that. Life is a gift from God. Indeed, to be alive at all is a miracle. Give glory to God for it!

And also think how it is that you give Him glory. Nine lepers continued on their way once they realised they were healed. They wanted to show themselves to the priests so they could be declared clean and get back to their lives. But one delayed seeking that declaration. He paused his journey to the priest, reversed direction, and fell on his knees before Jesus, giving thanks. He did something to show what the miracle meant to him. Pray yourself as to what it is that you may do to give thanks to God for all He gives to you; and having prayed, take action. Amen.

The Holy Orthodox Order of St George the Great Martyr works tirelessly to help those in need. We focus particularly on our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in the Holy Land and those who suffer because of their Christian faith. However, we strive to help all in need. Funds are desperately needed at this time to help those facing the horrors of war in Gaza and Lebanon. Please help if you can by making a donation to the Order. And please keep all those who suffer in your prayers. Thank you and may God bless you.

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