The gospel for Wednesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 17th, chapter 11 through the 9th. As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, 10 lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice saying, jesus, master, have pity on us. And when he saw them, he said, go, show yourselves to the priests. As they were going, they were cleansed.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God. In a loud voice, he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, 10 were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other 9? Has none.

But this foreigner returned to give thanks to God. Then he said to him, stand up and go. Your faith has saved you. The interesting thing in this particular miracle story is the issue of who was the healer. They didn’t immediately when Jesus asked them to go to the temple, didn’t experience the healing, but was on their way to the temple. And when they got to the temple, they went through the rituals of purification.

And maybe they left there thinking, well, I went through the right source and the temple is what I believe in. But the Samaritan was the only one that really understood the meaning of Jesus miracles, because what he wanted those miracles to say is that Jesus and only Jesus and his message would heal the people. Sa Satan. Satan Sam. Satan Sam. Sa Sam.

THE CLOSING PRAYER Father, we turn to our religion for sacraments that call us into an awareness of who you are. And it’s easy to get confused as to whether the religion is doing the work or whether it’s you. Directly, individually, in our lives. Help us to see the distinction between your presence within us and the work of the church. They work together, but the balance can only be achieved by you. You are the source of everything, and your presence in us is the key to the kingdom.

And we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.