Only One of Ten
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to God’s Word and Spirit.
Read Luke 17:11-19
Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Reflect
The lives of these 10 lepers would never be the same. Since their condition was very contagious, lepers were among the most marginalized of people. All of them cried out. They all begged Jesus to have mercy on them and obeyed his command to go show themselves to the priests. All were healed. However, only the Samaritan turned back praising God and fell at Jesus feet, thanking him. Only one had the faith that truly made him well.
Closing prayer
Father, we pray for those who are marginalized in our society. Help us to know how to reach out to them so that they may come to faith in Christ and be made well. Amen.