28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 17:11-19
Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good. – Maya Angelou
Commentary: Today we hear about how Jesus, continuing on his journey to Jerusalem, heals 10 lepers. This story is a lesson about faith and reminds us that faith is sometimes found in unlikely places. Ten people afflicted with leprosy cry out to Jesus. Struck with pity, Jesus heals all 10. However, only one is described as glorifying God and returning to thank Jesus. The one who returns is a Samaritan, a foreigner. In the Jewish circles in which Jesus lived, Samaritans were looked down upon because of the differences between the two communities in their observance of Judaism. It is significant, therefore, that Jesus commends the Samaritan for his faith, which has been his salvation. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, faith is found in surprising places.
Another lesson for us in this Gospel has to do with salvation. All 10 of the lepers were given the gift of healing, but in his gratitude to God for this gift, the Samaritan found salvation. Our salvation is found in recognizing the gifts we have been given and knowing to whom we must offer our thanks.
Questions:
1. What are your initial thoughts when you first meet a person who looks or acts differently from you?
2. Why do you think the other lepers did not thank Jesus?
3. What makes people fit in or not fit in in your school?
Words to the Song – Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran
We are, we are, we are
L.A. on a Saturday night in the summer / Sun down and they all come out /
Lamborghinis and their rented Hummers / The party’s on, so they’re heading downtown
(‘Round here)
Everybody’s looking for a come-up / And they wanna know what you’re about / Me in the middle with the one I love and we’re just tryna figure everything out
Chorus : We don’t fit in well / ‘Cause we are just ourselves / I could use some help / Getting out of this conversation, here / you look stunning, dear / So don’t ask that question here / This is my only fear / That we become
Beautiful people / Drop-top, designer clothes / Front row at fashion shows / “What d’you do?” and “Who d’you know?” / Inside the world of beautiful people / Champagne and rolled up notes
Pre-nups and broken homes / Surrounded, but still alone / Let’sleave the party
That’s not who we are (We are, we are, we are) / We are not beautiful / Yeah, that’s not who we are / (We are, we are, we are) We are not beautiful.
(L.A., mm)
Drove for hours last night and we made it nowhere / (Nowhere, nowhere) / I see stars in your eyes when we’re halfway there (All night) / I’m not fazed by all the lights and flashing cameras / ‘cause with my arms around you, there’s not need to care
Chorus
Beautiful people / Drop-top, designer clothes / Front row at fashion shows / “What d’you do?” and “Who d’you know?” / Inside the world of beautiful people / Champagne and rolled up notes
Pre-nups and broken homes / Surrounded, but still alone / Let’sleave the party
That’s not who we are (We are, we are, we are) / We are not beautiful / Yeah, that’s not who we are / (We are, we are, we are) We are not beautiful.
Visio Divina
1. Contemplate the Starry Night
2. Where do you see the sacred in this painting?
3. Read the Gospel again.
4. How does the Gospel connect with the painting?
5. Consider these ideas:
A. One building is pointing to heaven. Most are not. Can the buildings be compared to the leper’s?
B. This act of gratitude is pointing to the beauty of heaven. What are you most grateful for? How do you let God know you are grateful?
C. The cypress tree on the left is used by Van Gogh to symbolize a sacred encounter. In fact it looks like a dark burning bush. (Exodus 3) How did you meet God in the scripture? The art? This process?
6. Thank God and your fellow participants.
7. Leaders can add context to step 5 by consulting these resources.
MOMA article on Starry Night
Under the Starry Night A Wayfarer’s Guide Through an Uncertain World By Dennis Billy
Luke 17:11-19 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”