20th Sunday After Pentecost – Year C (Luke 17:11-19)

The story of the ten lepers is usually seen as the classic example of the need for gratitude. That commonplace understanding is no doubt true, but it tends to leave out the other side of the equation. The story of the ten lepers is also about what God does in and through Jesus Christ. First, God does not runaway from the unclean. Both the Law and common sense would have excused Jesus if he had ignored the lepers. Secondly, God’s grace is not limited to insiders. Some might rightly have expected that only nine of the ten lepers would have been healed. The Samaritan was considered to be outside of God’s covenant relationship with Israel. Finally, faith and the grace which follows upon it are at work for good in unexpected people and events, bringing healing to individuals and the world. For this we must all, indeed, be grateful.
On a different note, I think that it is interesting to point out that the Samaritan did not recognize the authority of the priests and that the priests would most certainly have rejected him. There was no point in his going to the Jerusalem temple priests, so instead, he returns to Jesus. There is no need for any external authority to legitimate the inclusion and healing Jesus accomplishes as he ushers in the reign of God.