Only the foreigner came back

Gospel

Luke 17:11-19

No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

This Gospel passage reminds us of the importance of gratitude and recognizing God's blessings in our lives. Jesus heals all ten lepers, but only one—a foreigner—returns to give thanks and praise God. This shows that faith expressed through gratitude is powerful and transformative.

Reflection question: How often do I remember to thank God for the blessings and healing I receive, rather than taking them for granted?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to have a heart full of gratitude like the healed Samaritan. Teach me to always praise You and acknowledge Your goodness in my life. Strengthen my faith so that I may walk confidently in Your grace.

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