A Meditation for Trinity 17 2025
Collect
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
Teach us to offer ourselves to your service, that here we may have your peace,
and in the world to come may see you face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Luke 17: 11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.
Hands up if you enjoyed receiving Christmas and Birthday presents when you were a child. Keep your hands up if you enjoyed writing Thankyou letters afterwards.
Thought so.
It’s much easier now than it used to be. If you search the Internet for Children’s Thankyou letters, you will be presented with lots of templates to print out.
The sincerity is profound and genuine – Not. I wouldn’t be surprised if were possible to also include a digital signature or buy a rubber stamp with your name on to save the trouble of finding a pen.
And if your Mum didn’t keep reminding you (with increasing menace), you probably just conveniently forgot. Yes, I do speak from experience.
You have to wonder if forgetting to say thank you (and mean it) is part of human nature. It was certainly the case in Biblical times. We read about the healing of the ten lepers whose miserable life was restored to a place in Society by Jesus, and it’s no wonder that they rejoiced when they were pronounced clean by the Priest – and it’s also no surprise that they were so excited that they forgot to thank their healer. Only one bothered – and he was a Samaritan! An outcast, not even a Jewish Galilean, but an alien.
We live in comfort, in safety, in freedom, accepted in our community. I wonder how often we send a Thank you to the One who sets us free? Or do we just take it for granted that Grandma will always buy us nice presents whether we ever handwrite a thank you letter or not?
Previous Posts
Praying Together 16th June 2024
The stories used by Jesus to explain the Kingdom of heaven – the ‘parables’ – offer understandable truth to all of them whoever they may be– and through many generations, to us.
Praying Together 9th June 2024
If we just give in and believe that there is nothing we can do to bring about such a change, the dream will never come true. So let’s not.
Praying Together 2nd June 2024
You may remember the song: ‘It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it, that’s what gets results.’ Catchy tune, catchy title. But wrong. Actually, it’s the other way round – ‘It ain’t the way that you do it, it’s what you do…’
Praying Together 19th May 2024
By the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to witness to your truth and to draw everyone to the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Praying Together 12th May 2024
But in Christ, a much more reliable ‘Truth’ can be found. Truth in the ‘Logos’ – the Word. The Word made flesh.
Praying Together 5th May 2024
Collect for Easter 6 God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: Grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through...
Praying Together 28th April 2024
‘If you love God, then you love your brothers and sisters’. You cannot have one without the other. If you do not love your brother and your sister, you cannot claim that you love God. No exclusions.
Praying Together 21st April 2024
There is only one leader who invites us to follow of whom we can be sure – the one who is prepared to lay down His life.
Praying Together 14th April 2024
It is easy, with hindsight, to criticise the disciples for their incredulity. But we have to ask ourselves what we would do in their place.
Praying Together 7th April 2024
We are challenged to decide what we need to ‘see’ to believe – and then to seek it in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Praying Together 31st March 2024 Easter Day
“I have seen the Lord”. It is difficult to imagine her emotions. She has seen the Lord! She doesn’t yet understand fully – but her eyes have seen Him. Her life is changed for ever, and she doesn’t care who knows it.
Praying Together 24th March 2024
But Jesus is aware of what He will have to endure in order to fulfil His mission of salvation – and He sets the necessary elements in motion.