Humility

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." 

As they were going, they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." (Luke 17:11-19)

Are we the “one?”  If, so, then how come?  Humility is the answer, as well as thankfulness.  The one leper who was a Samaritan actually returned to Jesus to give him thanks.  The others just went on their way.

Perhaps the message for us to always remember is to give thanks to God for our blessings, such as when we are cured of a disease or when we successfully overcome an addiction.   When we say, “Jesus, have pity on us,” when we receive that pity, we must thank our Master.  Being cleansed is not enough.  We must return to the Lord in humility and give him thanks.

Deacon David Pierce