A Poem a Sunday
Pentecost 21- C
October 9, 2016
St. Luke 17:11-19 -
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Commentary: St. Luke lifts up the marginalized as examples of faith. The act of healing in this narrative breaks the boundaries of purity and race. The Samaritan becomes an example of faith.
Jesus Cleanses Ten
Lepers
11 On
the way to Jerusalem Jesus[a] was going through
the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten
lepers[b] approached him.
Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show
yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising
God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’[c] feet and thanked
him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made
clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to
return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to
him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Footnotes:
[a] Luke
17:11
Gk he
[b] Luke
17:12
The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several diseases
[c] Luke
17:16
Gk his
A Poem a Sunday
Pentecost 21- C
October 9, 2016
Samaritan
The
story goes
he
salved the wounds
of
a stranger on the road;
placed
him on his donkey
took
him safely to a home
…and
he was a Samaritan.
Barren
and alone
high
noon at Jacob’s Well;
she
tells all to the Prophet
who
seems to cast a spell,
giving
living waters
…and
she was a Samaritan
Scabs
with hanging skin,
a
community of ten
call
out to the Healer
for
mercy: “Please befriend!”
Nine
out of ten
walk
off to find they're cleansed
while
only one returns
to
raise his grateful praise
…and
he was a Samaritan.
Mother
Emanuel Church
in
friendly Charleston Town
befriends
a stranger,
pray
with him,
on
the sacred ground.
Bullets
and blood begin to fly,
a
cry goes out – deep lament.
Yet
in the cry they forgive:
salve
the wounds
with
living waters,
in
gratitude they live.
…and
they are all ‘Samaritans.’
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A Poem a Sunday
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