This Foreigner

For Sunday, October 13th, 2019 

Proper 23, Year C

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

This Foreigner

They stood by the road and cried

they stood in line and were refused

their pain written on their faces

their hunger and fear ever present.

The living God heard their cries

their healing was the simple gift

opening the doors to a new life

they ran away without thinking.

One returned to give great thanks

finding out that gratitude was sweet

a word of hope, a touch of joy

returning home finally unscarred.

Those who think they deserve something

take off without tasting the dessert

miss the deep delicious dive of gratitude

lose the true joy only a foreigner knows.

Oh that we might see these shores

with the eyes of the aching refugee

the heart of a broken, ailing stranger

with gratitude for the love that heals.

The Collect

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.