Words about the Word - Tom Chandler - Trinity Lutheran Church
“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.” (Luke 17:15-16)
The other day I went to the courthouse to renew the registration on my car. The whole thing, from the time I left my house until I returned with the registration, took less than 15 minutes. If I was still living in a big city, it might have taken hours. It’s a small thing, but I appreciate that convenience.
When you stop and think about it, Albany is a special place. It’s a small town with a courthouse, post office, grocery store, pharmacy, two banks, a newspaper, a swimming pool, golf course, world class museum, great schools, wonderful traditions, a choice of restaurants… the list goes on. I am thankful to live in Albany.
Being thankful means taking time to appreciate the good things around you. Of course, thanksgiving is a little different. Thanksgiving is taking time to appreciate the giver of the good things you enjoy.
It’s more than saying a quick “thank you,” or at least it should be. A child might open a birthday present and say, “thanks grandma” on his way to his room to play with the new toy. Or he might take time to appreciate his grandma and why she gave him the gift before he runs off to play. “Thank you, grandma, you are awesome and I love you.” Thanksgiving is about receiving, not only the gift itself, but the love behind the gift and then giving love in return.
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, knowing he would suffer and die on a cross there, passing through towns and villages along the way. He came into a town where there were ten men waiting for him. They had visible diseases on their skin that cause them to be quarantined- away from their families, jobs, and communities.
When they saw Jesus coming from a distance, like a great church choir, they cried out, “Jesus, master, have mercy on us.” Jesus responded, “Go and show yourselves to the priest.” The priest was the only person who could lift the quarantine and allow them to return to their families, work, and community. As they went, all the sores on their skin faded away.
I am certain that all ten of them were thankful for this gift, but only one of them took time to appreciate the giver. It’s true, this one man, without breaking stride, could have simply looked up into heaven and said, “thank you Lord.” But he did more, he went back farther than where he started, all the way to the feet of Jesus, where he fell on his face in worship, glorifying God and giving thanks to Jesus. Jesus received his thanks and blessed him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has saved you.”
In this case, it was far more important to appreciate the giver than the gift of healing. Jesus is both the giver and the gift. He went to Jerusalem to give his life and die on a cross to cleanse you from sin and guilt, to give you a life hope and joy and purpose in this age, and eternal life in the age to come.
Every good thing comes from God. It’s true, without breaking stride, you could look up to heaven and say, “Thanks God.” Or you could take time to join the choir. There is no better place to appreciate the giver than at church. Jesus said: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Jesus was disappointed only one of the men returned to give thanks. “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” he asked. Indeed, where are they?
