Faith Making Us Well

In the parable of the Ten Lepers, Jesus said to one who returned praising him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

As I visualize this story, I see Jesus going through a place similar to the southern border towns of Texas.

There are two boarders here. The first is physical: the Rio Grande which separates a safe place from unsafe places.  

The other is a vague area of cultural and social life differing from the physical. The people in this area are the outsiders representing unsafe places.

These people, like the lepers, are crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” because they are suffering mental isolation and poverty. 

 Jesus, who is more interested in healing than physical and cultural borders, tells them: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  

They are healed, one returns praising Jesus who says, “Your faith has made you well.

What I see here is that Jesus has changed the meaning of a border. 

He changes it from the people and places we usually consider sacred and worthy to a place where God shows up to heal and liberate.

The outsiders are now part of the community and liberated from prejudice. 

Now I visualize all sorts of people gathering for Sunday worship calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

So, God shows up in our worship as we hear the Word and gather at the Table surrounded by song and music.

All this is bringing us healing and freeing us from spiritual isolation and poverty.

Thanks be to God for the gift of this healing, liberating story.