Tuesday, October 8, 2019


Proper 23C / Ordinary 28C / Pentecost +18
October 13, 2019


Foreigner


Luke 17:11-19 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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:

  1. Luke 17:11 Gk he
  2. Luke 17:12 The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several diseases
  3. Luke 17:16 Gk his


Foreigner

Bound
and doubly indentured
Samaritan
and leper found

common pain
and common wont
with nine others
alone, together
wilderness bound.

But then hearsay
about The Prophet:
“Is it true that
he can cure?”

So they go
and discover
he is the one.
They cry aloud:
“Mercy, Mercy, Mercy!”

Then a sound,
a voice
that penetrated
their bodies;
a voice
that falls over them
and in the ocean
of vibrations
they are washed
and they are cleansed.

One heart,
one soul,
one body
returns:
the doubly indentured,
the foreign one:

Gives witness of a resurrection.
In gratitude praises God’s Son.

And what of us
who take for granted
health and wealth
and white privilege?

Hearts grown cold
and it’s the foreigner
who gives praise
for divine grace.

copyright@2019 kennstorck
may be used with permission
kennstorck@gmail.com




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