28^th Sunday In Ordinary Time

Luke 17:11-19 One Out Of Ten      2 Kgs 5:14-17

The theme of foreigners (that is, non-Israelites) responding better to Jesus than their Israelite counterparts is highlighted by Luke in the story of the ten lepers. The related theme of how even non Israelites receive the blessings reserved for Israel alone is present in all the Gospels, a literary reflection of how the Messianist movement led by Jesus historically became a movement directed not only to Jews but to Gentiles as well. But the comparison between Israelite and non-Israelite vis-a-vis wholeness received through Jesus is nowhere else explicitated except here. The earlier story regarding the centurion friend of the synagogue and his servant provides an implicit comparison. So is Matthew's account of the Canaanite woman (Matt. 15: 22-28; In the parallel Marcan passage, Mark 7:24-30, no amazement at the Canaanite woman's faith is recorded.).

The story appears only in Luke, and in his special section. It is not presented as a miracle story. Rather it is presented as a pronouncement story emphasizing the ratio of the leper that showed gratitude to those who received the healing as he had but did not return to show their gratitude.

"And one of them ... turned around." The verb used is hypostrepho. It is the verb normally used for "turning around" with a moral connotation. In the LXX, it is the verb used to translate the Hebrew shub. The verb is used here in conjunction with "glorifying God (with a loud voice)." The cured leper sees his healing as a marvel of God and he turns around and directs his steps to Jesus. The picture given by the evangelist is that of a man who, recognizing the mighty hand of God in his life, changes the direction of his life by turning to the Lord.

   Is this a journalistic report of something that really happened? As a journalistic report, no; rather, we can see it as a theological narrative based on events that the apostles and the Lord experienced retold to serve as a paradigm for understanding events undergone during the post-Resurrection Church. In other words, recollections of events in the ministry of the Lord is expressed as a story in order to shed light on a theological reality. In this case, it is the reality of few conversions inspite of many healings.

   Let me put it this way: A miracle crusade might be so successful that it effects many healings. But inspite of the healings, only a few of the participants, in the long run, become committed Christians. The ministers and his helpers may begin wonder: Is it because of our strategy? Is it because of us? Why is it that many were healed but only a few commit themselves to the Lord? The early Christians had the same questions. It is perhaps in moments of self-questioning when stories like that of the Parable of the Sower, and the story of the Ten Lepers were retold.