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?" Luke 17
Nine lepers celebrate new skin, one leper celebrates the Creator and Restorer of new skin. If gospel statistics are any indication, then ninety percent of us live life at skin level. Jesus offers us so much more. He desires more for us, than we often desire for ourselves. His final question in today's gospel: “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?" is not a rebuke. It is an invitation. An invitation which Jesus extends to us today. Let us not hesitate to open our hearts in gratitude, begging his healing, peace and forgiveness.
Photo by Brother Brian. Meditation taken from Abbot Damian's words at this morning's Thanksgiving Day Mass.