“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine” (Lk 17:17)?
Jesus makes this statement to the Samaritan who fell at his feet praising God and thanking him for his healing. The other nine received the same physical healing. Some of them may have seen this man turn back and go to Jesus, yet each one of them continued on their way to see the priests as Jesus had directed them. The purpose of this was so that they could be pronounced clean, and so re-enter the life of communal worship and living among their people. I am sure they were ecstatic to do so.
Jesus healed all ten of their leprosy without even saying a word of healing. The catalyst to receive this miraculous healing was their obedience to Jesus’ command to show themselves to the priest. They did so without hesitation and as they walked they all experienced healing. Yet, one of them sensed something deeper still.
Could the others have experienced something similar? If so, many were probably so excited about the healing that they did sense anything beyond the healing. Others may have sensed something but dismissed it, and a few, may have noticed the Samaritan turn back to Jesus, but could not or would not change course to return to say thank you.
The Samaritan that comes to Jesus in gratitude experienced something deeper than his physical healing. He recognized God’s activity in his life and so praised God at Jesus’ feet. He then also praises Jesus, placing Jesus on the same level as God and opening himself to a relationship and communion with him. Jesus acknowledged this step of faith. This man heard an invitation from within, in the quiet of his heart, and resisted any distraction that may have tried to dissuade him. Jesus then said, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you” (Luke 17:19).
In following the gratitude that welled up from within, this man received more than just physical healing that day, he received salvation, “your faith has saved you.” This means not just that his body was restored and made whole again, but that the separation from his relationship with God had been reconciled.
God invites us in so many gentle and small ways in the silence of our hearts to be more engaged: in a relationship with him, in our own lives, and the lives of others. We too can crowd out the invitation by keeping ourselves busy, distracted, and/or diverted. We can hear the whisper but discount it outright for many selfish reasons, we can also be led astray by the cacophony of mind noises that is fed by our fears, prejudgments, or apprehensions. Yet, we can also be like this Samaritan. We can hear and experience the invitation of God, act on his lead, surrender to Jesus, and be saved.
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Painting: “Jesus With the One Leper Who Returned to Give Thanks” by William Brassey Hole
Spiritual Stepping Stones 