"ONLY ONE AMONG TEN"
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to the Most High. (Psalm 92:2)
After concluding his Galilean ministry, Jesus began his final journey to Jerusalem. It was at least a three-day trip requiring travel through Samaria. Entering a village near the border, Jesus was moved with compassion for ten lepers who cried out to him from a distance. Responding to their plea, he told the afflicted men to go to the priests and show themselves, the normal procedure after a person was cured from a contagious disease such as leprosy. On the way, the men realized they had been miraculously cured. At last they could return to their families. No longer would they be shunned and isolated.
Luke concludes the account of the cleansing by pointing out that only one of the ten returned to Jesus to say thank you. Noting the fact, Jesus asked his disciples, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?" No doubt the disciples disparaged the men's thanklessness, but in truth ingratitude is common among us all.
When a difficult time comes to an end, our first reaction is to take a deep breath of relief and then start putting the crisis behind us. We rush forward to make up for what we perceive as lost time — time lost to illness, fractured relationships, or foolish decisions. We try to erase even the memory of the crosswind because of the lingering sting of frustration, fear, or hopelessness.
At times we become so focused on moving forward that we fail to thank God for seeing us through. When Jesus pointed out the failing of the nine, he wasn't concerned for himself. He was lamenting their thanklessness because of what it deprived them.
In the words of the psalmist, it is good to give thanks to the Lord. And when our hearts are filled with gratitude, we will always be counted with the one, never numbered among the nine.
After concluding his Galilean ministry, Jesus began his final journey to Jerusalem. It was at least a three-day trip requiring travel through Samaria. Entering a village near the border, Jesus was moved with compassion for ten lepers who cried out to him from a distance. Responding to their plea, he told the afflicted men to go to the priests and show themselves, the normal procedure after a person was cured from a contagious disease such as leprosy. On the way, the men realized they had been miraculously cured. At last they could return to their families. No longer would they be shunned and isolated.
Luke concludes the account of the cleansing by pointing out that only one of the ten returned to Jesus to say thank you. Noting the fact, Jesus asked his disciples, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?" No doubt the disciples disparaged the men's thanklessness, but in truth ingratitude is common among us all.
When a difficult time comes to an end, our first reaction is to take a deep breath of relief and then start putting the crisis behind us. We rush forward to make up for what we perceive as lost time — time lost to illness, fractured relationships, or foolish decisions. We try to erase even the memory of the crosswind because of the lingering sting of frustration, fear, or hopelessness.
At times we become so focused on moving forward that we fail to thank God for seeing us through. When Jesus pointed out the failing of the nine, he wasn't concerned for himself. He was lamenting their thanklessness because of what it deprived them.
In the words of the psalmist, it is good to give thanks to the Lord. And when our hearts are filled with gratitude, we will always be counted with the one, never numbered among the nine.
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