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.” vss. 15-16
Luke 17:11-19
The ten lepers were not healed instantaneously. Jesus had only told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and it was as they were on the way that healing came. And then only one of them came back to give thanks to Jesus, and Luke makes a point of saying that he was a much despised Samaritan. It’s Luke’s way of saying that it’s the most unlikely folks who are the most thankful! We see that too. On a day like today, a national day of Thanksgiving, often the ones most likely to give thanks to God come from the category of “the least, the lost, and the lonely.” Those whose tables are daily filled with the richest foods and the finest wines seem least likely to acknowledge that they are in any way beholden to God for their luxurious circumstances. But those who struggle, who don’t see themselves as among the favored ones, are often mindful that the good which comes their way is from God, and their thanksgiving is from the heart. Perhaps today we could take at least a few moments for reflection on who we are, where we’ve come from, and the incredible blessing that it is to be alive today and eating well. And if we have family around us, all the better! Thanks be to God!
Thought for the Day: My most thankful Thanksgiving!
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