Proper 23 – Year C Christ Church – Warwick. NY

Luke 17:11-19 October 14, 2007

And as [Jesus] entered a village, ten lepers approached him.

-Luke 17:12

It was really hard being a leper. First, there was the disease itself. Leprosy was - and is - a terrible affliction of the skin where human flesh and bone are literally consumed bit by agonizing bit. Over time, a person infected with leprosy can lose digits and whole limbs to the disease, in a slow but ceaseless march.

But that's not all. Because leprosy was so feared in Jesus' day lepers were cast out from the society in which they were born…forced to live in "colonies" where only other lepers were allowed to go. By law, lepers were responsible for maintaining their seclusion from the rest of society. When a leper saw another human being approaching, they would call out, "Tame! Tame!" which means "Unclean! Unclean!" Stay away! For your own sake ... leave me alone!

Can you imagine the pain? Can you imagine the loneliness? Can you imagine the hopelessness? It was really hard being a leper.

Can you further imagine then the joy in the hearts of the ten lepers in this morning's Gospel account, when they were healed by Jesus? "Go show yourselves to the priests," says Jesus (because only the priests could officially pronounce a leper "clean" and so sanction their return to society.) "And the lepers went," says St. Luke's story, "and as they went they were made clean."

If it doesn't seem like the lepers did much to deserve this healing…well welcome to the kingdom of God! For it's true. The lepers did not answer any tricky questions, or confess that Jesus was their Lord. They did not make any extraordinary effort at prayer or the healing arts, but rather just asked - one time - for Jesus to have a little mercy. This is quite a stunning example really, of the grace of God, and God's deep desire to restore broken humanity to wholeness.

Human life is hard. In every human life there is illness, loneliness, emptiness, hopelessness…moments where we know profoundly the pain of being outcast.

But just as surely, to be human is to be blessed by God. The blessings of God's grace and benevolence fill our lives: with moments of communion, beauty, insight, wonder and the phenomenal gift of life itself…gifts which God grants freely and abundantly to every member of the human creation.

Now this morning's tale isn't over when the lepers are cured. All ten run off-

obedient to Christ's command to go to the priests - but then one of the ten turns back! There is no indication that he doesn't intend to head to the priests eventually, but it looks like he wants to take care of something else first. "I ought to say thank-you," is what I think he says to himself, "I ought to run back there just for a second and give thanks for being healed."

It's a cool moment when the leper goes to Jesus. Remember, he has not been in contact with another healthy human being in a long time…maybe his whole life. Do you

suppose he first stopped twenty yards away from Jesus to shout out his thanks from a safe distance? Do you suppose Jesus beckoned him to come closer? Wasn't it HARD for a man who had been trained over a lifetime never to get close to another human being - like a dog that's had his neck snapped too many times by a short leash - to suddenly walk right up next to another person. To suddenly be able to walk right up next to Jesus.

Of course when the man draws close to Jesus his thanks just pour out. He "praises God with a loud voice." He "prostrates himself at Jesus' feet." He "thanks him" and thanks him and thanks him…again and again and again.

What a great thing to give such thanks! What a fine thing. And the story of the leper begs a question: How often do I remember to return that kind of thanks? How often do I halt what I am doing - take time out from where I am going - and deliberately turn and thank God for the blessings of this life? How often do we throw ourselves at God's feet - if only briefly - and say what we need to say, "Thank you thank you thank you?"

"Were not ten cleansed," says Jesus, "Where are the other nine?"

Which group do you want to be part of?

But the Good News this morning doesn't end with an admonition to be thankful to God. Because while that may be the right thing to do, it is also a duty. And we already have lots of duties. No, rather we see an amazing further result in the life of the Leper - already so abundantly blessed - when he turns and gives thanks. Christ blesses him more abundantly still! Jesus says to him, "Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well."

All ten lepers were healed of their physical illness…but Jesus brings to pass something more in the life of the tenth leper. For returning thanks to Christ for the blessing of the physical healing in his life, the tenth leper receives an even greater gift. "You are not only healed says Jesus, you are well."

We all know there is a lot more to being "well" than there is to being "healed."

- An addict can kick their habit but still order their life in a crazy and unhealthy way run by bad habits built on letting their addiction run their lives.

- An abused spouse can summon the courage to flee a dangerous relationship and get that court order for protection – but if she doesn't do the work of figuring out the why and the how that lead her to that bad guy, chance are, the same thing will happen again in her life.

- A prisoner of war can escape or be liberated and return in all safety to their home and family…and yet be so embittered by hated – or paralyzed by fear – that they remain "imprisoned" forever…

I think in this pronouncement of "wellness" Jesus signals that the last leper has been blessed HUGE! "Not only is your body alright," says Jesus to the man, "but your soul and spirit are right too. You are all the way whole my friend. You are well. You are all right by me."

The leper is blessed: personally, individually and abundantly by Jesus. And all because he took a moment to turn around and sincerely thank God.

Could life work in the same way for you and me? Could it be that if we lived life joyously and thankfully, God would bless our lives and our experience still more abundantly? Karl Barth says:

Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace like thunder follows lightening.

Could it be true? Could it be that if "gratitude was our attitude" our lives would be better and more complete than ever before?

Our Sunday morning liturgy is practice for life. All this is - in part - a rehearsal. Here we practice our skills at seeing God in simple things…sharing community with folks outside our immediate and comfortable circle of family and friends…and remembering to give joyous thanks and praise to the God who gave us all. Did you know that the word "Eucharist" means literally "A giving of thanks?" Isn't that cool? That means that at least on some level, every time we receive Holy Communion we are "giving thanks." "Lift up Your hearts," we say. Lift up your hearts in thanksgiving.

When you approach Jesus this morning in the sacrament of Holy Communion, make it a moment of intentional thanks. Instead of thinking about "what you get" in that communion with God, embrace the last leper that is in you, and let it be a moment sincere gratitude to God...

Perhaps you can open your heart to the possibility that in so doing, the God who is revealed to us in the gracious blessings of our everyday will receive your thanks and bless you right back! And then take that attitude of thanksgiving and joy out into the world with you this week. Remembering to turn and give thanks frequently to the Lord of your life.

Remembering that Christ will multiply your thankfulness beyond your wildest dreams: with blessing ...healing ... and wellness!

Amen.

J.S. Barker +