Luke 17: 11 - 19

Sunday’s gospel is one of the stories unique to the gospel of Luke. At the same time, it is a commonly known story that is often cited to demonstrate the value of saying thank you. However, as usual, there’s more to this story than initially meets the eye. One of the recurrent themes of the gospel is at play here: the message of salvation that Jesus brings is available to all, not just the Jews.

Whilst the gospel tells stories about the healing of those with skin diseases, the common factor is actually about their expressions of gratitude and conversion of heart. In the gospel, all ten men are healed but it is only the stranger; the foreigner; the Samaritan, who comes back to give thanks and to praise God. The others – Jewish men, presumably – are only concerned about themselves and have no time to acknowledge the graciousness of God that they have experienced. The gospel writer has Jesus emphasise the point that it is the Samaritan – the outsider – who has recognised God’s activity in his cure and come back to give praise and thanks. It is only he who has experienced the change of heart; the conversion of faith.

‘The other nine, where are they?’ asked Jesus. Why would the other nine not have come back to give thanks? It is insufficient to say that the miraculous healing these men experienced changed their lives. Being healed of this disease meant so much to them: they could return to their families; they could return to work; they could touch another person; they could walk among other people; they could join in prayer at the synagogue. As they hurried back toward town they must have been overwhelmed by the possibilities and opportunities that lay before them. But they neglected to acknowledge the source of their great joy!