Being Healed of Our Leprosy


In this Sunday’s Gospel (Lk. 17:11-19), we are told of the encounter between Jesus and Ten Lepers.  They begged Jesus to heal them of their leprosy, and Jesus simply told them “Go show yourselves to the priests.”  While they were on their way, one of the lepers realized he was cured, and so he returned to Jesus and gave glory to God.  Jesus asked where the other 9 lepers were and said to the one Samaritan man who returned, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

It was the man’s faith that saved him. What happened with the other nine?  Jesus said that they were cleansed, but why did they not return with the one to give thanks and praise?  Maybe they did not realize they were cleansed.  Maybe they did not have faith that Jesus would cleanse them.  Maybe they were too focused on getting to the priest and on questioning Jesus’ method that they failed to see what was actually taking place.  Maybe they did not even know they were unclean.  Maybe the cleansing that Jesus performed was one of the heart.  If they did not know they needed healing, how would they know and realize their were healed?

Going to the doctor is not always a fun or pleasant experience, especially when we are sick.  Sometimes we get some news from the doctors that we did not see coming.  When we are told something about ourselves we never saw or noticed, how do we respond?  Similarly when a trusted friend or mentor points out a bad habit or weakness of ours, how do we respond?  Do we acknowledge that bad habit or weakness or do we dismiss it?  Those are the times when we are being invited to be healed of our own leprosy.  We are told that the lepers “stood at a distance from Him [Jesus] and raised their voices, saying ‘Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!’”  Do we wish to be made clean?  Do we acknowledge our own sinfulness and go to the Lord?  Are we aware of the Holy Spirit’s working within us at the present moment?  What is our leprosy?

The men with leprosy “stood at a distance” from Jesus, but Our Lord comes to us.  God comes to us everyday.  He isn’t afraid of our leprosy and sinfulness.  To show this, He took the form of man and became one of us.  In His infinite love, God sent His Son to dwell among us in our leprosy and sinfulness.  Jesus carried our leprosy and nailed it to the cross once and for all.  He conquered our leprosy.  We have no need to be ashamed and stand to the side or “at a distance.”  Jesus came to us so that we can approach Him.  Everyday at Mass the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus.  Everyday we are invited to approach Him in our weary state.  Do we approach the altar as the Samaritan man did?  As we process to the altar to meet our Lord do we do so with a spirit of thanksgiving and praise, ready to give glory to God? 

Let us approach Our Father who has loved us from all eternity, acknowledge our sinfulness and stand not at a distance, but rather at the feet of Our Lord and sincerely and humbly implore Him, “Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!” with a steadfast faith that He will.  May our faith and actions lead to Our Lord saying to us, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”   

The Healing of Ten Lepers
(OrthoChristian.com)


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