VIII.
Below is the week’s reading from Luke and links to the two readings from Leviticus –

Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

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.”

Leviticus 13:45-46
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+13%3A45-46&version=NRSV

Leviticus 14:1-32
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus+14%3A1-32&version=NRSV

IX.
In the previous post I stressed the social or community aspects of this healing account. As I read Leviticus 14 I was impressed not only by the details of the offerings to be made when it was thought one was cured of leprosy but the steps or stages involved in bringing one back into the life of the camp, the community.

Maybe we can notice that healing oft times is not only of physical disease (or mental disease) but also of social disease.

The thankful Samaritan was perhaps thankful not only that his skin healthy but that he could go home and be fully with his people.

Who do we name as “unclean” today?

Who do we exclude from full participation in the community, in “our” community?

Who needs the mercy of Jesus and the faith of the Samaritan to recognize that breakdowns in our society can be healed and that honest thankfulness is the necessary response for such healings?

How does it begin?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}