There’s something about the month of November that seems to brim and overflow with fullness. From All Saints’ Day to Veterans Day to Thanksgiving, it’s a season of both remembrance and gratitude. The season picks up steam with crisp weather, fall leaves, fall decorations, and pumpkin-spiced… well, everything. Add in holiday shopping and football season, and the season takes on a unique life of its own.
Although there are a lot of THINGS going on, it’s the people, relationships, and interconnectedness that resonate with me. While I’m the extrovert and my wife is the introvert, we are both highly relational; she’s more one-on-one, and for me, the more the merrier. But it’s the holidays when I think about all the people we’ve been connected to over the years. My deepest gratitude goes to people who have poured into our lives, and we have tried to do the same. Conversely, my deepest regrets are how we have drifted apart from some friends, be it a move across the country or leaving a church or other organization that pulled us together in the first place. I also regret not thanking or honoring enough the people who have made a difference in our lives. And even though we have lived open-handed, investing in others without expecting anything in return, there has been a little sadness when, at times, it seems what we said or did for others wasn’t appreciated.
It’s with this background of thoughts I have been meditating on that I was reminded of Jesus healing ten lepers, but only one of them returned to Jesus:
Luke 17:11-19:
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’
When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”
Imagine the desperate reality of these ten men. Suffering from leprosy, enduring a painful, physically debilitating disease. They were forced to live away from society, calling out “Unclean!” to anyone who drew near.
When they saw Jesus, they cried out with one voice for mercy. It is interesting that Jesus didn’t heal them instantly as he had done for others before. Instead, He asked them to step out in faith: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Under the Mosaic law, only a priest could officially declare a leper clean and restore them to community life. Jesus asked a poignant question:
“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”
As these ten lepers progressively experienced miraculous healing, they must have simultaneously started to realize the implications of what they were experiencing. The limitations and barriers they experienced, for what we can presume was a long time with their affliction, were vanishing. The physical affliction was only part of what these lepers experienced. They were ostracized from the rest of their community. No more reconnecting with grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. over family holiday gatherings. No more invites from friends to watch the game together. No more career opportunities or chatting with co-workers in the break room. Even societal-level connections were eliminated; no more shopping in the market, milling around town, or gathering together for worship.
And can you imagine, as the ten lepers began to realize their limitations and barriers were vanishing, how that would have led to excitement and hope for what they would now be able to experience once again. Their longing to be accepted and welcomed. To have been not able to mourn together with family when a member died, but now able to reconnect with and make the most of time together with aging loved ones. Even to be able to work and feel like a normal and contributing part of society.
What if this second chance at life could lead to a life more amazing than they had before they had leprosy? When you think about the realization and excitement about what their healing meant in so many areas of life, it’s easy to understand how they would be drawn towards the excitement for their future. They just needed to get to the priest and get his declaration that they were clean, to restore and unlock seemingly endless possibilities.
I find it interesting that Jesus asked the one man who returned where the other nine were. We could all understand why Jesus would ask the other nine, if he saw them again, why they didn’t return. And I understand that many times Jesus asked questions to make people think. What point was Jesus trying to make to this man? “Looks like you’re the odd man out. You’re different, but different is good.” He is certainly pointing out the contrast between this man and the rest of the (now former) lepers, but he also seems to imply that this man chose the right thing: gratitude, honor, and relationship.
All ten lepers received healing, but Jesus said to the one who returned, “Your faith has made you well.” That word well communicates a broader and fuller sense of wholeness and well-being. What the one who returned chose was not only the right thing; it also added an additional layer of shalom and flourishing to his life.
As you think about this, don’t think too long without deciding to make the most of this season. Think about all of the things you are experiencing that you could be missing out on. Choose to prioritize relationships and connection, giving honor to others in your life, and showing gratitude.
If Christian Service Brigade has had an impact on your life, gratitude could mean praying for the ministry, sharing your story with us, or giving a financial gift, for the first time or at an increased amount. Rest assured, we will faithfully use your gift of gratitude to bless the next generation the same way.
For others in your life, this looks like not avoiding gathering together, being generous with your thoughts and words about what they mean to you, and actually verbalizing those things to them. It means calling, texting, or sending a card to someone you’ve lost touch with, and sharing with them that they have made a difference in your life. It’s being intentional, whether you are a Brigade Unit leader, church leader, small group host, etc., to prioritize relationships over programming. And, maybe hardest of them all, carving out time to do all of the above.
Thanksgiving isn’t a thing for one day out of the year; it’s a lifestyle all year long. So, let’s start with November 1st and see the healing and flourishing we can all experience together!