The Ten Lepers
10/10/10 07:02 Filed in: Gratitude
The mere fact that you can read this message means you’re better off than 1.3 billion people. And, since you’re reading it on the Internet, you’re better off than 5.4 billion people.
Once we start counting our blessings, we realize there is no way we can repay all that we have received. The best we can do is to follow the example of the leper and show our gratitude by falling at the feet of Jesus and praising His name.
Once we start counting our blessings, we realize there is no way we can repay all that we have received. The best we can do is to follow the example of the leper and show our gratitude by falling at the feet of Jesus and praising His name.
“One of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.” (Luke 17: 11-19)
The three most despairing words in the English language are, “Why me, Lord?” It’s a question we all may be tempted to ask when beset by life’s trials and afflictions. Why me? Why this punishment? What did I ever do to deserve this? We may feel forsaken, cast out into the darkness, beyond all hope of recovery. In our depression, we may withdraw from others, isolate ourselves and become increasingly despondent, even harbor destructive thoughts.
In today’s Gospel, we encounter ten men who might well have asked themselves the same question: “Why me? What sin did I ever commit to deserve leprosy?” The very word leprosy meant to “scourge” or to “smite.’ It was thought of as a punishment reserved for the vilest of sinners.
The lepers couldn’t know that bacteria caused their affliction. All they knew was their skin was blotchy, flaking and rotting off. They were slowly losing all sensation in their extremities, all sense of pleasure and pain. It was a living death.
Shunned by family and friends, called “unclean” and forbidden to come within two paces of a healthy person, they lived in graveyards and garbage dumps and begged for scraps of food from passersby.
But on this day, the lepers begged for something else, something far more precious. They begged for mercy.
Moved to pity, Jesus said to them, “Go show yourself to the priests.”
Amazingly, the ten lepers went off, certain they had been healed, and somewhere along the way, their faith made them whole. No doubt, all ten men felt grateful to Jesus, but it’s not enough to feel grateful – you have to show it. Only one of the lepers actually showed his gratitude. The Samaritan alone returned to give thanks.
Only the Samaritan said to himself, “Why me, Lord? What did I ever do to deserve this blessing?” Overcome with gratitude, he threw himself at Jesus’ feet.
So often in life when things go badly for us, we’re tempted to question God, but when things go well for us, there’s a natural tendency to take our good fortune for granted. We accept our blessings without a second thought. We take full credit for all we have achieved.
But, in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations, our saving grace may be an attitude of gratitude and a keen awareness of all the blessings we have received. For instance:
• If you’re able to satisfy your hunger every day, you’re better off than 852 million people.
• If you have access to clean drinking water, you’re better off than 1.3 billion people.
* If your home has electricity, you’re better off than 2 billion people, and if it has indoor plumbing, you’re better off than 2.5 billion people.
The mere fact that you can read this message means you’re better off than 1.3 billion people. And, since you’re reading it on the Internet, you’re better off than 5.4 billion people.
Once we start counting our blessings, we realize there is no way we can repay all that we have received. The best we can do is to follow the example of the leper and show our gratitude by falling at the feet of Jesus and praising His name.
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