Faith Heals

October 13 Luke 17.11-19 “Faith Heals” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Health care is a big topic in our news right about now.  In fact, there is a dog-eat-dog fight going on for health care here and in every corner of the world. We all want the same thing, and when we work together and share together, good things happen.

Pages and pages of the Bible are dedicated to details about health issues such as infectious disease, emotional well-being, sewage systems, and food handling. Health is emphasized in the Bible because health matters to all of God’s creation.

But, talking about health care is like talking about oil and diamonds.  Politics and profit always get mixed in the conversation. It was the same way for the ten lepers in Luke’s gospel that we read about today.  They knew Jesus. That was political in itself. We don’t hear them crying out “unclean, unclean, unclean.” They were required by law to do so in order to protect everyone else from getting leprosy - that bacterial infection that affected the nerves. Instead, they cried out, “Jesus, master, have mercy on us.” They wanted help for their lives, so they called Jesus.

Don’t we also ask Jesus to have mercy upon us? Think about it. Every pain we have, every diagnosis, every wounded feeling, every broken relationship, every injury,  everything that is out of order gives us reason to cry out, “Jesus, master, have mercy upon us.” Our hope is kindled when we cry out for Jesus’s help. Our healing begins when we acknowledge him as master.

Jesus heard the ten lepers crying out to him and immediately their lives were changed for the better from the inside out. Simply asking for Jesus’ help stirred up the healing process in them. When Jesus saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean.

It was customary for those who had a scaly itch, a weeping wound, a swelling bump, or any unpleasant ailment or situation that we can think of to get treatment by going to the priest. They were directed to go to the priest to get checked out, to get diagnosed, to get cleared to return to work and a normal routine.

They knew God was their source of healing. This was written in stone, so they were to go to the priest because the priest was the stand-in for God. No doubt, that scriptural direction is an inspiration for the Catholic tradition of going to the Priest. The priest would ask all kinds of questions about lifestyle, and relationships; eventually those with ailments would confess something that they needed to let go of in order to help them regain their health and wellbeing. This confession in its broadest sense is good for the soul, and revealing one’s shortcomings and ridding oneself of a guilty conscience is great for our physical health.

Luke says, as they were on their way to see the priest as Jesus instructed them, THEY WERE MADE CLEAN. In the Greek, to be made clean means to be cleansed from physical stains as well as to have a clean bill of health because of one’s hygiene and moral behavior; to be made clean is to be free from defilement and faults, purified from wickedness,  free from guilt of sin, consecrated and dedicated. Doing what Jesus guides us to do is to be on a path that is great for our health and wellbeing.

One of the ten lepers SAW THAT HE WAS HEALED. All the lepers were made clean, but Luke makes a point to say that one leper recognized that he was not only clean, but he was healed. The Greek word for healing in this text meant that he was no longer a slave to sin.

Whenever we ask God’s help and the day comes when we are finally free from a rough responsibility, a sad situation or a sickening sin, we naturally get so excited. We might even do what this one leper did. He raised his voice and nothing was even wrong; he bowed at Jesus feet like we humbly bow at the altar for communion. He was grateful, and so are we.

All ten lepers were made clean. Only one was specifically described as being healed, and when that healed one turned around and expressed gratitude at the feet of Jesus, Jesus went on and did what a priest would do, he declared him well and told him to go on his way. He said, “Your faith (your trust in God) has made you well.”

The word “well” is to be made safe and sound. It indicates that one has been rescued, or saved from danger and destruction. To be made well is to be restored. To be well involves a lifestyle of holy habits that begin with gratitude and humility that make all the difference in the world and in our health.

On this “bring-a-friend” Sunday, we are here because we have a friend in Jesus. We have all called upon him for mercy and help. When we follow where he leads us, our lives get cleaned up. When we take a good look at how beautiful and beloved God has created us to be, our lives grow better and healthier. When we see the great work God is doing within us, we are in awe and we long to worship and give thanks. As friends, we bask in the sunshine of God’s love for all of us, and our love for God and for each other. May it be so forever. Amen.