the 18th sunday after pentecost
the PRAYER. . .
Almighty and most merciful God, your bountiful goodness fills all creation. Keep us safe from all that may hurt us, that, whole and well in body and spirit, we may with grateful hearts accomplish all that you would have us do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
the READING. . .
Then [Jesus] said to [the Samaritan], “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
the DEVOTION. . .
I’ve no idea how many sermons I’ve heard, over the years, on this particular passage. How many I’ve preached. Wondering why the Samaritan was the only leper who returned, that day. Ten are cleansed, but only the one returns. “The other nine,” Jesus says, “where are they?” Why wasn’t the Samaritan with them? Why didn’t he go along? Well …
Because he was a Samaritan! And like the evangelist tells us, “Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.” Except, apparently, when they both have leprosy. Truth is, leper or not, the Samaritan would always be an outsider. Unwanted. Rejected. Jesus could cleanse the disease, but he couldn’t change the birthplace. Even without the leprosy, the Samaritan would never be welcome. So, he returned… and fell on his face… at Jesus’ feet… Because he had nowhere else to go… had no one else to go to…
“Get up and go on your way,” Jesus says, “your faith has made you well.” And that, precisely, was the problem …
Bob Barndt, pastor