What an exciting statement! Out of the ten who first asked Jesus for healing, this fellow was the only one whom Jesus praised. What was it that set him apart? Let’s look at the way he overcame three barriers, all of which can speak to us today.
The first barrier was physical: his illness of leprosy, which was considered to be highly contagious. The second barrier was cultural: He was a Samaritan, whom the Jews looked down upon as unworthy of God’s favor. And the third barrier was spiritual: the temptation to take his healing and run with it, without coming back to thank Jesus for performing such a miracle in his life.
Just as this fellow’s leprosy caused a barrier between himself and his family, so too does sin prevent us from being brothers and sisters. Sin creates barriers and division. It isolates us and makes us focus on ourselves and not on the needs and the love of those around us.
Culturally, this man saw that Jesus’ message and his power were meant for everyone, not just Jesus’ kinsfolk, the Jews. Just as Jews looked down on Samaritans, so too did many Samaritans consider their Jewish neighbors to be inferior to them. But this fellow was so moved by his healing that he came back and humbly thanked and praised Jesus for this miracle. Similarly, when we are healed by God’s grace, our prejudices against other people begin to melt away.
You can almost hear Jesus saying: “How can this Samaritan fellow, this foreigner with the strange accent and the unorthodox spirituality, be the only one who came back to me? Why didn’t they all come?” Jesus asks us the same question: “Will you come to me, or have you forgotten me? Will you let me help you overcome your barriers?”
“Lord, wipe away every sin and tear down every barrier. Unite us all in you. Let nothing divide us. We will never forget what you have done for us.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19)
1. In the first reading, Naaman, an army commander from Aram, is healed through the prophet Elisha. Why do you believe his healing caused Naaman to turn from false gods to the true God and Lord? Do you believe that God still heals today? Why or why not? Share any times you were healed by God or witnessed God’s healing. What impact did it have on you?
2. The response in the responsorial psalm is, “The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.” What is the difference between God’s healing power and his saving power? How have you personally experienced the Lord’s saving power?
3. In the second reading, we hear these words: “But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:12-13). What do you think these words mean? How do they apply to you personally?
4. In the Gospel, why do you believe only one of the ten lepers who were healed glorified God and came back to praise and thank Jesus? How often do you spend time in prayer praising and thanking God for the many blessings you have received from him? Why not take some time now to do this, especially for saving you from sin and eternal separation from God.
5. The meditation ends with these words: “Jesus asks us the same question: ‘Will you come to me, or have you forgotten me?’” How would you answer this question?