Text: Luke 17:11-19
"Jesus, have mercy!" How often those words have been uttered throughout history. How varied the souls who have spoken them. Those in physical distress, those weighed down by all manner of uncertainty regarding life, relationships, loved ones heading for disaster, dear ones dying. "Jesus, have mercy!" The faithful speak the words, the marginal believers remember them, the unfaithful find them, and even the unbelieving try them. Sometimes they are shouted, almost in defiance, sometimes they are forced in desperation, sometimes they barely come forth even in a whisper of resignation.
An old saying tells us there are no atheists in foxholes. And life presents many such places, where only the barest of refuge can be sought, and in which all that really matters is quickly and accurately assessed. While some may dismiss the near universal tendency to cry out for divine assistance and even more so for divine mercy as futile desperation, could it not also be an indicator of a loving God making either a last minute plea for a child of His to turn with hope-filled eyes to the source of all good things, or granting the reassurance needed in the hour?
Many are those who escape the danger, endure the trial, pass through the enemy fire and walk away, never mindful that their continued living is all of the grace for which they had asked. Nine out of ten living in a border village on the road to Jerusalem fell into that category. One was filled with gratitude sufficient to return and worship the grace giver. All had received that for which they had asked.
Yes, we're all in the lepers' company, and most of us have cried out and received mercy; most of those who read this have thanked Jesus. Now will we be more willing to take on his manner? Are we ready to extend mercy and compassion to those who will not give one ounce of gratitude or appreciation? Jesus knew the hearts of the nine; but his love was stronger than their self-centered way. Can we learn the way of the savior, with a love for others that is not overcome by their ingratitude?
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One thing that struck me about this post and that stands out to me is the fact that the only leper that came back praising God and threw himself at Jesus feet is the Samaritan. I have often observed that those that were saved that came from a foreign non church environment seem to be so much more thankful for their salvation then those of us brought up in and were saved in a church environment.My prayer this morning that I may be as thankful for my salvation as that Samaritan
ReplyDeleteThanks for the response, "Wingy." I did initiate this with the nvitation for comments, but you're the first to take me up on it. You're certainly right about the thanks owed for the gift of salvation--our cure from leprecy. My goal in some of these is to provoke us to thinking on multiple levels on a passage. I want to engage not only where we fail or where others might be at risk, but to learn the ways and attitudes necessary to the imitation of Christ. That a Samaritan was the one in ten is not insignificant; it undoubtedly had a large impact on the immediate audience.
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