Faith Daily | 10 November 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST

Blessed Lord,

you have caused all holy Scriptures to be written

for our learning:

grant that we may so hear them,

read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,

that, by patience and the comfort of your hold word,

we may embrace and ever hold fast

the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 17: 11-19

11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Rev’d David

The healing of the ten lepers occurred when Jesus reached a village on the border of Galilee and Samaria on His way to Jerusalem.

As happened so often in His earthly ministry, He broke with accepted convention, spoke with and healed this group, which no doubt included some Jews and Samaritans from this border village.

The important point He makes is that the only one of the ten to return and “give glory to God” for his healing, is a Samaritan. And in asking the question “Where are the other nine?”, He directs us to His message out of this encounter.

All of them had been made well on the outside, but the Samaritan man who returned and “…fell to the ground at Jesus feet thanking Him for what He had done” (verse 16) demonstrated what happens when one is also made well on the inside.

We notice the difference Jesus identifies, the Message Bible highlights it. The nine “became clean” (verse 4), but to the Samaritan who went straight back to Jesus “shouting his gratitude, glorifying God” He said, “your faith has healed and saved you” (verse 19) The other nine were made well, but they forgot Jesus who had healed them. Somehow they may have felt grateful, but they had what they wanted, and never thought to return and thank Him.

When Jesus has touched our lives on the inside, they are changed on the outside to want only to live in gratitude to Him, it changes everything. So in all the things that come our way in life we live in gratitude to Him, because there is something stronger than any affliction, and that is the grace He gives to endure it.

This is what St Paul meant when he told the Thessalonians “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT).

FINAL PRAYER: APBA page 591

Saving and healing God,

you have promised

that those who have died with Christ shall live with Him:

grant us grace to be continually thankful

for all you have done for us,

and in that thankfulness to be eager to serve

and live for others,

so that we and all your children may rejoice in your salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.