28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus and his group of disciples were about to enter a town. They suddenly heard voices shouting out, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” A group of lepers had spotted him. They may have had a camp outside the town since they were forbidden to enter. Jesus shouted back to them. “Go. Show yourselves to the priests.”
The group started to walk away, presumably going to the priests. As they walked away, they were cured. The blotches and ulcers dried up, leaving no trace of the disease. One of the lepers realized that he was healed and returned to Jesus to offer profound thanks. Jesus told the leper, “Stand up and go! Your faith has saved you.” The ten lepers were cured, but this one was the only one who was saved.
These ten lepers were sent on a journey to present themselves to the priests. From there, they would return to society. But one was saved when his journey brought him back to Jesus to give thanks.
Luke’s theme of journey, meeting Jesus along life’s paths, is an integral part of this account. This man’s journey had taken him away from the comfort of society and family to the horrible isolation of leprosy. He knew Jesus was a healer, and so he screamed out to him for help. But unlike the other nine, he took another journey. He knelt before Jesus and gave thanks, using the Greek word eucharisto. By doing so, he became one with the great community of thanksgiving, the Eucharistic community.
In our gatherings, we meet Jesus in the teachings he delivers to us. We’re strengthened to continue our journey when he feeds us with himself, the Bread of Life. We’re healed and saved when, like the leper, we return over and over again to give thanks.
Prayer
Loving God, as I walk the incredible journey to you, I pray for healing along the way. Heal me of the things that separate me from you and my brothers and sisters. Thank you for the bread of life with which you strengthen me. Thank you for the eucharistic community that embraces me. Amen.
