Gospel
Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.
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.’
(Luke 17:11–19)
Did you know?
Points of interest and Catholic lore
- In the text, the term ‘leper’ probably referred to people who suffered from a variety of skin disorders.
- Under Jewish law, lepers were ostracised and forced to live outside the city limits. It was thought that they would contaminate others in both a physical and religious sense.
- Leprosy was perceived as a punishment for sin, so lepers were considered moral outcasts as well as physical outcasts.
- When a leper was ‘cured’, the priests performed certain purification rites (Leviticus 14). It was only after purification that lepers could again come into contact with friends and relations, and once again participate in the religious life of Israel.
- An ancient animosity existed between the Jews and the Samaritans. It originated in the period after King Solomon’s reign, when his death prompted civil war and the kingdom’s division into two. The break-away northern kingdom of Samaria rejected the temple in Jerusalem and built a new temple on Mount Gerizim. Those in the southern kingdom of Judah considered the Samaritans apostates.
Exploring the Word
This text conveys another teaching from Jesus about what real faith entails. It is not simply another miracle story. First, the lepers recognise their own need for healing—and it is this recognition that prompts them to cry out to Jesus and implore him for mercy. In their need, they turn to Jesus as their hope. He responds with compassion and sends them to the priests to fulfil Jewish law. Nine assumedly complete that journey and re-enter the religious and social world of the Jews. However, one does not continue with the priests and cultural practices of Israel. Instead, he turns back towards Jesus after realising the true source of his wholeness. The recognition that his salvation came through Jesus and not through the fulfilment of Jewish law is what assures him that he is saved. His response is appropriate: he falls to his knees, praising God loudly and thanking Jesus for all that he has done for him. The fact that he is a Samaritan, a foreigner, may have resonated with Luke’s community, which primarily comprised non-Jewish believers in Christ.
- How do you respond to Jesus?
- How do you give praise to God?
- What needs healing in you?
- How do you offer thanks and praise?
Making connections
Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer
- Have you ever been an ‘outcast’ through no fault of your own?
- ‘Master! Take pity on us.’ Have you ever been moved by pity or compassion to do something for another?
- What reasons do you have to give thanks to God?
- Jesus’ act in this text would have completely transformed the lives of the lepers. Share stories of when your life reached a significant turning point. How did it affect you and those close to you?
- Be more inclusive of people who are sometimes treated as ‘outcasts’ in our society. Say thank you to someone who has done something for you.
- Use the following lines from the ‘prayer’ in the Epistle to Timothy, which is today’s second reading:
If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
Sharing the tradition
A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ
The leprosy in this text can be regarded as a symbol for anything that places a barrier between people. Jesus’ ministry has numerous examples of him breaking down barriers and drawing people into the fullness of life that lies at the heart of the Gospel.
- Brainstorm examples of barriers that Jesus sought to break down.
- The Church is called to imitate Christ in terms of breaking down barriers, and all of Jesus’ followers are called to do the same. Brainstorm some of the barriers that exist between people in our world, such as ethnicity, disability, religious intolerance and levels of affluence. Discuss how the Church is working to break down such barriers and promoting an attitude of ‘one human family’.
- You could recount the stories of great figures in church history who worked to include the ‘outcasts’ of their society, such as Damien of Molokai and Mother Theresa.
- You could discuss recent trends in the Church that involve promoting peace and religious dialogue in troubled places in the world.
Symbols and images
Today’s gospel includes another example of an outsider—in this case, both a leper and a Samaritan—recognising Jesus, while those who should have known him, his own compatriots, failed to respond appropriately. We often witness ‘acts of faith’ from surprising quarters!
Living the Word
Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment
- How does your own parish work to break down the barriers in our society? Are there occasions in which the community could pray for peace or unity in our divided world, such as in prayers of intercession? Is this done as effectively as it could be?
- Invite those gathered to consider what aspects of their lives cut them off from others or from God. Use reflective music and a period of quiet contemplation. A suitable song could be Out of the Depths (GA 227). Conclude with the prayer of exorcism in the RCIA at §94K.