Sermon on 10 lepers healed by Jesus - October 13, 2019
There is no quid pro quo. There is no “you scratch my back AND THEN I’ll scratch yours.”
God’s love is ours. No matter what. He gives it to us, because he is a gracious God and Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that we would have that love and forgiveness.
It isn’t that we HAVE to do something to get that first. It is ours.
Grace is known by many as GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE.
Another way to speak of it, that I have used for years is:
Grace is God’s love and forgiveness, because of Jesus Christ –
WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
It is very important to understand that this is our Lutheran Christian approach to all the Jesus did for us in dying on the Cross.
God’s love.
The relationship restored.
Sins forgiven.
No strings attached.
NO QUID PRO QUO.
Why do I begin with this today?
Well, because it is at the heart of who we are as Lutheran Christians.
But specifically today, because of this story about the 10 lepers healed by Jesus.
Alyce McKenzie, a Progressive Christian theologian writes in her article:
“An Attitude of Gratitude?” the following:
Lots of times, when we hear this story the nine lepers are portrayed as ungrateful boors.
A word or two on their behalf is in order.
They all approached him and called out to him “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
They all obeyed his command to go show themselves to the priest.
As we hear their retreating footsteps, let’s give them more respect than we usually do.
They’re heading in the direction he told them to head.
They’re not heading for a bar, a house of ill repute or a casino. They headed for the priest, and this is, remember, before they have even seen any evidence of their cleansing.
So let’s cut them some slack.
They knew to whom to call out for healing. They believed him when he said it was a done deal, even before the evidence was before their eyes.
And they did what he said. He didn’t say, “Go, show yourselves to the priest, but, on the way, as soon as you see your flesh has been cured, high tail it back to me with a thank you note.”
The purpose of visiting a priest after a cure (Luke 5:14; Leviticus 13:49; 14:2) was so the cured person could officially resume his place in society.
The nine lepers, presumably Jewish, had their minds on the future, on resuming the life they had left behind with the onset of illness.
Their minds were full of scenes of reunion with wives, children, with reentry into market and synagogue.
There is no indication that their goals and future actions were anything but respectable and legal.
And I add – let’s be clear. These 9, who did NOT return to say thanks, STILL received healing. Yes, Jesus was surprised that they did not turn around and say thanks, but he didn’t REVOKE THE MIRACLE OF HEALING.
That is NOT his way.
Ever.
McKenzie again:
But they were lacking something.
The one leper, the “foreigner,” who returned to thank God, was “made well,” (sozo- “to be healed of spiritual disease and death”) whereas the nine were merely “cleansed” or “healed” (tharizo- “to be made clean or healed of a disease”).
Physical cure (tharizo), the verb used twice and translated in the NRSV “made clean” (14) and “healed” (15) is not the same as “made you well,” or “made you whole” (sozo),
a condition often referred to as “salvation.”
When Jesus says, “your faith has made you well,” sozo is the verb he uses.
The Samaritan did not need to go to the priest – as he was most likely not a part of the society as the other 9 persons were.
Why is gratitude crucial to wholeness of mind, body and spirit, to what the New Testament calls “salvation?”
Apparently, to be made well, we must add thanksgiving to our faith.
The person who makes such acknowledgement experiences a salvation that goes beyond the merely physical cure. It is a reorientation of the inner life.
What does this have to do with us today?
Grace is ours. Free. No strings attached.
God loves us. Through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
That is never revoked. That is not God’s way. EVER.
The question is: WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT GRACE? THAT FORGIVENESS? THAT LOVE?
In order to fully appreciate and live into that love that will never let us go – we are called to show gratitude – to live a life that is God pleasing – NOT to get the love, but to live fully in the love.
We are called, we are given the opportunity to live in a full relationship with God, filled with good deeds, with care for creation and all of humanity.
We have the privilege to reorient our lives from a self-centered sinfulness that only things of ourselves,
To an other – centered gracefulness, that embraces God’s love by embracing each other.
Showing respect for others – even those different from ourselves.
Practicing forgiveness with each other – even with those who may not seek the forgiveness.
You see, my sisters and brothers:
It’s a great love affair. The Greatest Love Affair of all time!
God gives himself completely to us in Jesus Christ – and his Spirit comes and kisses us in our Baptism, claiming us as his forever. No matter what.
We have the joy of responding back in love to our God.
That is the way we join with the Samaritan in today’s story:
By prostrating ourselves at Jesus’ Feet – at the Foot of the Cross and simply saying Thank you.
And when we do, we hear Jesus gently say to us:
“Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you whole!”
And then, we get up, washed, healed, made whole, rejuvenated for life.