32nd Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 10th November 2021 — Gospel: Lk 17,11-19
Salvation Journey
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. His gesture of falling down on the face of Jesus is true posture of worship and at the feet of Jesus is true place of worship. Faithfulness, healing and salvation make a good blend in this account. Faithfulness is demonstrated in two ways. First, 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; second, the Samaritan’s thankfulness for his physical healing shows evidence of deeper, spiritual healing, which is true salvation. This account alters once again that Jesus travelling toward Jerusalem, between Samaria and Galilee, is to accomplish the universal salvation that is intended by God for all people. The boundary lines between who might be saved, leper or clean, Samaritan or Jew, have been broken. Salvation is a journey towards within (Samaritan) and towards Jesus (U-turn). Anyone can experience God’s salvation, if they shout with joy, praise God and walk along the same road Jesus is travelling.
