Lk 17 11-16 – the Healing of the ten lepers
The Gospel reading, the story in Luke of the healing of the ten lepers, takes us into Border country - the territories between Jerusalem to the South and Galilee to the north - the dangerous short cut through the mountains, rather than the safe highway along the Jordan valley to the East.
And we as historic Mission Agencies, SPCK and Us, might say that we too find ourselves in border country - not always of our choosing - but where, perhaps surprisingly, we find God most at work.
Liturgically in recent days we have been through a process of preparation and reflection during the period between Candlemass and Lent. A few days Between the proclamation/manifestation of Epiphany - and, approaching and entering Lent, a time of reflection between faith / hope - and anxiety / questions. It's a kind of "middle space".
What does this middle space have to offer us by way of insights into Mission?
For Us, we stand between a re-launch of the Society, and the hoped-for new energy and life that it will bring to our ministry and mission; and between the design and then the delivery of exciting new programmes with our British and international Partners.
For SPCK, in a longer time-frame, you stand between the turmoil of complex litigation, and the opportunities of building a new future and direction, embracing new media and reaching new audiences at home and abroad.
For both our organisations, we stand at a point in our common histories, between the days of the stable state and the stability of institutional and charitable life on the one hand; and on the other, a growing culture of the privatisation of faith, the growth of secularisation, and the consequential spawning of new ways of association, of conscientising and of action.
This is border country writ large. The place of opportunity and threat in equal part. But it was the way Jesus chose to walk, with quiet determination. So to the text (Lk 17:11-16)
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.
Let's explore some of the content of the story:
Keeping their distance - the lepers were forced apart initially by sickness, but then more by a fearful, excluding community bent on its own survival.
Lord, Have mercy! - in spite of rejection, they were ready to receive help in order to find new life
Go and show - the healing was needed by the wider community who alienated the lepers. But the lepers’ willingness to go to the priests opened the door to their re-integration into society.
As they went ( not after or before!).... They were made clean
One turned back....liberation for him was recognising he was already acceptable to God. Before going to priests! ... He gave thanks.... And he was a Samaritan. Why mention this?
It was not because of stereotypes but to indicate that the lepers had already formed a new community of the marginalised. Jew and Samaritan together. Job done. They were worlds ahead of those they went back to. Now they had a gospel to proclaim! No wonder the 9 were breathless to get on, leave alone to come back to say thanks!
So what do we learn? Becoming the new c'tty is the key to building new c'tty. As Agencies, we have to become what we proclaim, in order to live with integrity with our Partners.
What if – for a moment – what if Us/SPCK are the leper c'tty, not those who walk safely, and sometimes smugly, with Jesus? (The conventional reading of the text!)
We are, for sure, in need of healing
How do we become the new community in order to enable others to grow into theirs?
Perhaps there is a healing paradigm here for us all:
- Are we ready, and humble enough, to ask for help?
- Are we willing to obey?
- Are we, in our own organisations, able to recognise in the otherness of each person, and each Partner, the gifts that God wants to give to enable us all to become whole?
- Can we find in our own vulnerability a way into receiving the healing grace of God?
- Are we willing to relearn and re-engage society? (Go to the priests.... Who are they today? The lepers had been away for a long time and no doubt life had moved on in their absence)
- Are we able to give thanks? And able not to demand that others give thanks to, and appreciate, us? (So often apparent in paternalistic approaches to mission and development)
This last – a culture of thankfulness – allows the cataracts of our single-sightedness to fall away, to place God back in the centre of our personal and common life, and to reach out to the future with humility, courage and hope.
“Go on your way!” says Jesus - and with echoes of the full/abundant life of Jn 10:10 – “Your faith has made you well (and truly) well.”
Amen.
