Where to Turn

Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19

Imagine being this Samaritan leper who has just been cured.  Overjoyed he immediately does as he is told and rushes to show himself to the priests.  But a thought occurs to him.  The priests are Jewish, and I am a Samaritan.  Even though I am healed of my leprosy, I will still not be declared clean by them because I am a foreigner from a hated ethnicity.  I will forever be seen as unclean.  Moreover, I cannot return to Samaria and tell them I have been healed by a Jewish rabbi.  They will mock me and cast me out as well.

So, the Samaritan faces a dilemma.  He has been healed by Jesus and by right he should be restored to societal acceptance.  Yet, he faces animus no matter where he turns, for neither Jerusalem nor Mt. Gerazim will accept him.  He thus turns to the only place he can - to the one who healed him.  Jesus accepts him and restores him, welcoming him into his community and encouraging his disciples to accept him as one of their own.  

Perhaps the leprosy that needs cleansing is not that of Hanson's Disease.  Perhaps it is the leprosy of our hatred of others, our exclusions and separations we so desire that leave people as outcasts in the first place.  Today is a day for us to seek that healing of our moral leprosy, the self-righteous attitudes and behaviors that create poverty and marginalization, war and violence.  Today is a day for us to welcome all into the family of God and care for their needs.