Except This Foreigner

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.” Luke 17:11-19

I am the first to admit that they are days when it's hard to be grateful. When the traffic is snarled and the tests are many, it is easy to see only the brokenness and not the blessings. The past few days have been filled with tough tasks, yet nothing really miserable. A trip to Urgent Care, man trips into Boston for appointments, and traffic snarls of massive proportions. The blessings can sometimes get lost. There is always a moment, an opportunity, however brief, to give thanks for the healing. There is always an little space to reflect back and see the many gifts around us.

Jesus heals ten lepers on the road. He told them to go and see the priests and in the went with haste and with joy. They had things to do, places to get, people to see. One of the lepers took that moment to see the blessing, the healing and stopped to give thanks for it. Maybe, because he was a foreigner he expected to be rejected and turned away. Maybe people like him knew they were banned. In his wonder and joy at being included and being healed, he saw the true gift in his life. He took the time to be grateful, just a moment to turn around and demonstrate his gratitude. God invites us today, in the midst of our busy days and our challenges in life, to give thanks for the wonders that we have been blessed with today.

Today I ask God to help me focus on the abundance instead of the frustration, in the many gifts instead of the few things lacking. May we all take the moment to be grateful, as we are all beloved members of the family of God.