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Worship and Thank God Like the Samaritan
In the Gospel of this Sunday, we find that Jesus is healing the ten lepers. Among the ten healed by Him, only one – a Samaritan – returns to give thanks. This is a wonderful event for gratitude. But the Gospel writer, Luke, invites us to go deeper into the passage.
The setting matters: Jesus is traveling “between Samaria and Galilee,” a borderland. It is precisely in these in-between places that the marginalized often meet Christ. Lepers were outcasts, excluded both socially and religiously. Yet Jesus does not avoid them – He draws near and hears their cry for mercy.
Jesus sends them to the priests. According to Leviticus 14, it was the priest’s duty to certify a person as clean so they could return to society. The nine Jewish lepers obey the Law – they do what is required. But the Samaritan, an outsider, goes beyond the Law. He recognizes that healing is not just a ritual matter, but a gift that comes from God Himself through Jesus. That recognition transforms his healing into salvation.
The Samaritan’s response is key: he “turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and fell at Jesus’ feet giving thanks.” The language Luke uses – glorifying God and giving thanks – is the language of worship. The Samaritan doesn’t just show gratitude; he worships. His thanksgiving becomes an act of faith, acknowledging Jesus as the true source of healing and salvation.
Notice Jesus’ words: “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” All ten were healed, but only one was saved. Faith is more than receiving blessings – it is recognizing the Giver, glorifying Him, and allowing gratitude to lead to conversion of heart.
This Gospel challenges us: Do we treat God’s blessings merely as gifts to be used, or as encounters with the Giver who deserves our thanks and worship?
Goc Bless,
Father Josuva
Rev. Josuva Arulanandu, Admin.
Dcn Gary Wilhelm
Steve Noworatzky, Secretary Trustee
Jean Blattner, Chairperson
Roseann Schuchardt, Vice-Chairperson
Jeff Satori, Secretary
Tre Waldren
Meeting Minutes
Rev. Josuva Arulanandu, Admin.
Dcn Gary Wilhelm
Tom Kopanski, Chairperson
Janice Reindl, Treasurer Trustee
Allen Dietrich
Amy Faucett
Liz Kenneke
Greg Schnell
Meeting Minutes
Rev. Josuva Arulanandu, Admin.
Dcn Gary Wilhelm
Cecelia DeBruin
Debbie Griem
Judy Jelinek
Kris Lenzner
Mary Olig
Kathy Riesterer
Rita Steffen
Patty Wilhelm
Marlene Zutz
Whitney Zutz
Gerald Augustine
Eugene Riesterer
Ron Schnell
Cemetery Rules
Catholic Doctrine on Cremation
Joe Bell
Allen Dietrich
Jerry DeWane
Scott Elliot
Fred Reindl
Frank Riesterer
Joe Weber
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