32nd Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 11th November 2020 — Gospel: Lk 17,11-19
The Road to Salvation
Luke gives a unique account of the cure of ten lepers, of whom only a Samaritan is shown as a model of faith and genuine response to God’s grace. This passage unfolds the process of salvation in three steps, namely, 1) healing, 2) turning back and praising God, and 3) the prostration and thanksgiving at Jesus’ feet. The probability of knowing Jesus as the Messiah was unsure, but certainly the Samaritan recognized Jesus as a priest, God’s instrument for healing and restoring him. Faithfulness, healing and salvation make a good blend in this account. Faithfulness is demonstrated in two ways. One, the Samaritan recognizes that mercy has come from Jesus, and returns to thank Jesus, which is a form of faithfulness to God’s mercy that has been made manifest; and two, the Samaritan’s thankfulness for his physical healing shows evidence of deeper, spiritual healing, which is true salvation. This account alters once again that the salvation that Jesus is travelling toward Jerusalem to accomplish is intended for all people. The boundary lines between who might be saved, leper or clean, Samaritan or Jew, have been broken. Anyone can experience God’s salvation, shout with joy for it, praise God for it and walk along the same road Jesus is travelling.
