Theme: On October 20, 1864, amid a Civil War President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation #118 establishing the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation included an invitation to all citizens to observe Thanksgiving. A request to give thanks to God for the nation's life, and other blessings. A request to pray for the healing of the nation's wounds and the restoration of peace. Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday. It is a time for us to simply say “Thank you” for all of life’s blessings.
Prayer: O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, by Your grace hear the prayers of Your Church. Grant that those things which we ask in faith we may receive through Your bountiful mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Hymn: # 62 Now Thank We All Our God
Confession/Absolution:
LORD - we pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. In Your compassion forgive us our sins. Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone. And so uphold us by Your Spirit. That we may live and serve you in newness of life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you all your sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He strengthen you in all goodness. And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Luke 17: 11-19
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Hymn: #64 Our God our Help in Ages Past
Ten lepers cry out to Jesus with one voice: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” All ten share in the same condition. They are all leprous. They are all outcasts. Cut off from society. All of them. Yet they all had faith in Jesus to heal them. They all cried: “Have mercy on us!”
"Ten" is a perfect number. All together they cry out for mercy but at a distance. They had nothing left to lose.
They were all from the same village. Thus, they knew each other. They had a collective sense of community among themselves. Not based on faith. Nine were Jewish, one a Samaritan.
But on that day, they all stood at a distance. This terminal disease, leprosy, had not only brought them together. From it they had formed a common bond. They each knew the outcome. Theirs was a terminal disease. And without divine intervention, their common bond would be their common end.
Lepers were like death-row inmates. They were as good as dead. - Dead men walking. For death itself, was in their flesh. Lesions, sores, and scabs, bore witness to their decay as living symbols of death. They were unclean.
As such, they were shunned from society. They were cast out of the community, barred access to home, market and synagogue.
They literally had nothing. No home. No income. No future. Nothing.
Their leprosy made them dead to family and friends. Leprosy made them dead to religious practice. Only a cure for their leprosy could bring them life.
But cures were rare. So rare, in fact, that the rabbis of the day considered the cure of a leper equal with raising a person from the dead. Lepers were the living dead.
The men in today’s Gospel reading didn’t call out to Jesus just to say “Hello.” They called out because they were sick. In fact, they were dying a slow death.
And it is precisely those people whom our LORD came to rescue.
Perhaps the greatest virtue of the Samaritan was his sense of self. The man knew precisely what he was. And what he needed. More to the point, he knew where to get it.
They each went to the priest. They did this at Jesus' command. Which must have sounded quite strange. You only went to the priest as an affirmation that you were in remission. Only the priest could verify that a cure had come. Only the priest could pronounce you "good to go."
Jesus commanded they go to the priest for He knew, in advance of the miracle what would happen next.
When Jesus says, “Go!” That’s a complete sentence. It is one thing to feel grateful; it is another thing to express it.
Jesus, the author of life planned out every circumstance for these men. Likewise, He orders your days; He directs your path - regardless. Regardless of outward circumstances. Regardless of those obstacles 'in your road'. Regardless of past experiences and present details
The Lord remains faithful. Each was cleansed along the way. No sooner had they arrived at the Tempe they received a clean bill of health. Restored, redeemed, forgiven. And forever free.
So how about you as we approach another Thanksgiving? You respond by loving God and serving your neighbor. It’s that simple. “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and mind.’ And likewise, serve your neighbor in love.
The Samaritan experienced grace. For Grace is karma’s worst nightmare. With grace we receive what we don’t deserve. And because of grace you demonstrate mercy –
Thank you, Lord, for the riches of this day. In Thanksgiving we offer you our worship and praise. Lord, thank you for your love and care.
The Lord has given us one another and we give thanks for God’s grace and mercy as we offer prayers for the sick and suffering.
The Lord has given us the beauty of worship and the gift of fellowship with one another. We thank you Lord for gathering us on this day.
The Lord has given us life in a nation of opportunities and liberty; with public services such as fire and police protection, ambulances, food pantries, schools, libraries, and hospitals. We thank you Lord for our national life.
The Lord has given us neighbors, friends, families, and coworkers to share the joys and burdens of this life. We thank you Lord, for the privilege of loving others.
The Lord has given us a world full of creatures that crawl, fly, swim, and climb. We enjoy a bounty of flowers and shrubs, grass and trees, plants and moss, and rocks and hills. We thank you Lord, for your creation.
The Lord has given us a promise that where He goes, He will prepare a place for us.
We thank you Lord for the gift of life and for giving us to one another for safekeeping. Bring us home when it is time. Lord in your grace, hear our prayer.[1]
And on the Veteran’s Day we thank You for all who have valiantly served in our nation’s military protecting our freedoms. We ask Your continued blessing on all who serve that we might enjoy these gifts and may we never squander them.
[1] September-15.2024-10AM-17th-Sunday-after-Pentecost.pdf
(stmarksnewcanaan.org)
Ten Lepers copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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