We encounter ten lepers in our Gospel who give us a glimpse into the life of faith. Firstly, they are willing to cry out. Next they are willing to walk. Finally only one of the ten returns in order to give thanks.
We are told that the lepers “stood afar off, and lifted up their voice saying: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
So often there are those who are led to believe that they have no way to be liberated from the reality of sin that holds them captive. There is this feeling within us that we are unworthy of what the Lord has done for us. The lepers were excluded from society due to their condition. Nevertheless, they were willing to cry out to the Lord in order that they would be healed. We too must have the faith that is nessessary to cry out to Him despite all that is taking place within our life. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ if only we would place our trust in His healing mercy.
As the lepers “went they were made clean.”
It is here that they came to walk by faith for the leper had to go to the priest in order to be declared clean. This declaration of cleanliness could only be made if the plight of lepersy had passed from them. Those who were inflicted came to the Lord in faith and walked away from Him in faith as they came to approach the priest. We too must enter into their precession for from our encounter with the Lord we are always sent out in order to put our faith into action. In going out we must abandon that which we hold comfortable in order that we may place our trust in the Lord.
There was only one leper out of the ten who showed his humility and thus returned to the Lord “and he fell on his face before His feet, giving thanks.”
Saint Augustine accounts “The nine, swollen with pride, thought they would humiliate themselves by giving thanks, whereas by not doing so they are reproved and rejected from the unity which exists in the number ten, while the only one who returns to give thanks is praised by the Church.”
We like this one must return in order to give thanks. This is something that faith requires of us. We must give thanks for all that God has done for us. Upon the cross Christ laid down His life in order that we may be healed. There is no greater gift then this. In the church we continue to give thanks for all that God has done for us and to remember the gift that is the Eucharist. Spending time in prayer before our Lord is a way for us to give thanks.
Let us be sent forth from here in faith. Let us be willing to cry out in our need. Let us be willing to be sent out from Him in order to walk. Finally let us be willing to return in order to give thanks. This is truly a glimpse into the life of faith.
