e-vo for week of October 9

Dearest e-votees-

Jesus, in our gospel text for Sunday, is straddling two worlds. He brings healing and the response of the faithful is to bring worship.

Peace,
Karl

----------

11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19, NRSV

Jesus straddles two ways of being. He is God, divine creator. He is human, one of us. He knows our broken places and our pain and offers healing to those who suffer. He longs to reunite into relationship with the full community of the divine. Jesus brings both his natures to bear in the healing work he does for the world.

We are members of a broken and fallen race. We get sick and die. We mistrust and hoard. We allow pride and position to win the day over humility and gratitude. Our appointed OT text with Namaan the leper reveals our resistance to being healed if it doesn't come on our terms. Our gospel text reveals our resistance to bringing thanks and worship. We are mired in our sinful nature but Jesus comes to liberate and to draw us into the community of the divine.

The ten in our gospel text knew the rules: stay far away, tear your clothes, ring your bell, cry out "Unclean! Unclean!" They seem to have found fellowship with one another even though apparently they weren't all Samaritan and they weren't all Jewish. The fellowship of the broken trumps the petty divisions of those who deem themselves whole. Together this group of misfit men cry out "Jesus, master, have mercy on us!"

Jesus knew the rules: stay far way, don't contaminate yourself with the unclean (the lepers nor the Samaritan). Jesus would have been justified (and ceremonially clean) by passing by without stopping. But Jesus straddles two worlds. Jesus wouldn't let these men stay unclean. He tells them to show themselves to the priest. In their obedience (and in their faith?) they are made clean. God's mercy trumps even God's rules (or those rules purported to be of God).

One of those healed realizes what has happened and returns with praise.

Have we been healed?!? (yes)

Have we been made clean?!? (yes)

Have we been restored into community?!? (yes)

So will we be part of the 10% or the 90%? Will we offer the tithe of our gratitude?


God, you have healed, cleansed and restored into community our diseased, dirty and isolated existences. Give us grace and wisdom to bring you praise. Amen.