Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity 01 September anno domini 2024 Holy Communion
The Epistle. Galatians 5:16-24 The Gospel. Luke 17:11-19
Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the
increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we
may obtain that which thou dost promise, make
us to love that which thou dost command;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Thy faith hath made thee whole”
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
What shall we then say? Our Gospel reading is so pertinent to the prevailing attitude of the day.
“Give me stuff, give me gifts, give me or in the vernacular ‘gimme gimme, gimme’.
We read about ten very unfortunate men. They had nothing but the clothing that they wore, most likely castoffs from a local dump. These fellows were traveling together because according to custom they were not allowed to come into any village or city, because they were lepers. Without going into great detail, leprosy first disfigures the person who is afflicted and then slowly takes their life. This process can last several years. It is a slow and painful death. At the time there was no cure for it, so anyone who was discovered to have it, had to leave everyone and their village and try to make it on their own. So these outcast banded together for safety and to survive, even if for a while.
There are several lessons I would like you to see here in this story of the ten lepers:
1. These lepers knew Jesus could heal them. They called out to him, “Master, have mercy on us” . Why did they know this ?
Did Jesus reputation precede him? Most likely. The ten had most likely heard that Jesus healed the sick, and they were sick. They knew to go as Jesus told them and they were healed on the way to be certified clean by the priest. Notice these fellows only wanted to be healed and by being healed they could be restored to their community.
2. Here is the irony, only one of the ten thanked God. Those aren’t very good odds. This is the way of the world. Although ten were healed only one came back to thank Jesus who healed them. Do we sometimes not thank God for things he has done for us?
Did he not provide his Son as a once and for all sacrifice for our sins?
Did Jesus die for our sins?
Let us not be as the nine and turn our backs upon our very savior, we must turn and give thanks for the great gift of salvation from God.
3. The one leper knew that Jesus was God. Notice how he reacts to being healed. He turns back and in a loud voice glorifies God. Then he falls at Jesus feet and gives thanks. Note what Luke indicates, this one grateful healed leper was a Samaritan.
A sworn enemy of the Jews, an outcast, one who was already considered unclean because he was a half-breed. Half Hebrew and half pagan.
And yet this was the one who returned to Jesus, proclaiming him God by glorifying God. He, the rejected, knew he was healed by the healing word of the Master, came back to him to praise him and thank him and worship him.
...and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
4. We are all strangers at one time in our life. Before one comes to the Lord seeking salvation, they are in all respects, a stranger. We are estranged from God because our sin keeps us from being part of the Kingdom.
Now notice how this is rectified when Jesus becomes our Savior. “He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”.
When we step away from the world and seek His way, we will be saved by our faith. Our faith will make us whole.
So listener, if you do not know the Lord Jesus as your savior, you must seek him. Call out to him, ask him to save you from your sins. Repent from your sins, turn from the death that awaits all sinners and ask Jesus to save you, “....your faith will make you whole”. Jesus will take you into his Kingdom, where you will live for ever in His peace.
Let us pray:
O SAVIOR of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
THE Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all those who put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey; Be now and evermore thy defence; and make thee know and feel, that there is none other Name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom, thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
UNTO God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Amen.
