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A Grateful Leper Luke 17:11-19  On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (11-13, NRSV)  Modern lepers approach us all the time. Sometimes they look a little disheveled, perhaps in need of some clean clothing or a hot shower. Sometimes they’re on street corners with handwritten, cardboard signs; in rest areas on the highways, where their signs may be on restroom doors. It’s hard to face them, actually. The problem is – they look far too much just like you, and like me. And that makes us less than comfortable! O, we know that they too are “God’s people”, and that they too are loved – by someone, right? Just not by you, and by me – we prefer to leave that kind of loving to God. But, what we generally do – you, and I – is just grumble inwardly about the fact that these lepers are probably just on the ‘take’, seeking a handout when in fact they probably have a Cadillac in their garage at home. Just lazy – just good for nothing – don’t want to look at them, hear their story, admit that even we – you, and I – possess some of the same qualities which these lepers exhibit. Just lazy, just on the take, using the system. Who needs them, anyway? Get a job, you bums, and learn to take care of yourselves, the way we have – you, that is, and I.  Lepers were truly the outcasts in Jesus’ time. They weren’t permitted to come close to others, for their disease might be transferred to the good folks. Their disease was no doubt punishment for their sinful, evil ways – you know, sort of like the lepers of our days. Lazy, bums, on the take. So here come these ten dirty lepers, approaching Jesus, and what does Jesus do? Well, unlike you, and unlike me, Jesus does not turn away from them, but instead looks them straight in the eyes. He offers them healing, he offers them love, and they are made clean! They are healed, freed from their terrible burdens, and one of the ten comes back and profusely offers his thanks to Jesus. It so happens this former leper is a Samaritan – you know, sort of like an illegal undocumented alien immigrant. That’s the one who gave thanks. The only one.   Let’s face it – all of us are lepers, in one form or another. All of us are in need of healing, of the healing touch which comes from Jesus. We – you, and I - may just be very lazy indeed when it comes to the living out of our faith, but we sure want a handout from God. Just on the take, thinking we can use the system. Which one of us gives profuse thanks to Jesus? To that one, Jesus says: Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well. (19)  - Pastor Piet – October 7, 2007