"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 6 October 2016 with Scripture Luke 17:11-19

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 6 October 2016 with Scripture Luke 17:11-19
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Luke 17:11 On his way to Yerushalayim, Yeshua passed along the border country between Shomron and the Galil. 12 As he entered one of the villages, ten men afflicted with tzara‘at met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out, “Yeshua! Rabbi! Have pity on us!” 14 On seeing them, he said, “Go and let the cohanim examine you!” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, as soon as he noticed that he had been healed, returned shouting praises to God, 16 and fell on his face at Yeshua’s feet to thank him. Now he was from Shomron. 17 Yeshua said, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found coming back to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And to the man from Shomron he said, “Get up, you may go; your trust has saved you.”[Complete Jewish Bible]
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As lepers, these ten would have been pushed out of their communities as unclean. Yet with each other they had a little community together. Leprosy and necessity bound them together; whether they were Samaritans or not made little difference.
In this story as in many others in Jesus' ministry, Jesus is not just healing the physical disease. When the lepers are healed from their disease, they can also be restored to their communities. And if they can return to their communities--where will the Samaritan go? Where will he go if the community of belonging he has known (his fellow lepers) won't hold together now without the disease to unite them? Where can he go except to the one who made him well? Yet Jesus' welcome goes even one step further. He receives the Samaritan with telling words, "Your faith has made you well." There is more to be healed than just leprosy; there is more that aches than just a disease. There is an ache for others, an ache best soothed and expressed with a thankful heart. 
Healing God, you bring us to new life each day. Unite our communities to be places of healing, love and acceptance. We are thankful for your grace. Amen.
Erika Benson Buller, '14
Associate Pastor, Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton, N.D.
Luke 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he entered a village, ten lepers 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' 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." [New Revised Standard Version] 
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