The Nazareth Page -A gospel meditation for your home

October 12, 2025 – Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 17:11-19

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Most know that the Middle East, especially peoples living in the vicinity of Jerusalem, is a land not only of diverse cultures and religions, but also places filled with political and religious strife.  The same was true in the time of Jesus.

Today’s gospel describes a time when Jesus travelled through a part of Palestine called Samaria. This area was populated by people who were considered by most Jews as outsiders because they had their own understanding of Jewish history. Jesus would be thought of as a foreigner to them. He was among the Jews who believed that the Temple in Jerusalem was at the center of their religious allegiance. The Samaritans did not. Given deep differences between Jews and Samaritans, it was dangerous for Jesus and his followers to travel through Samaria.

While passing through Samaria one day, Jesus met a group of lepers. Victims of that horrible disease usually lived outside towns or villages because they were thought of as contagious. So, two factors, one religious and the other related to health, would have influenced people like Jesus to avoid these ten lepers. But he did the opposite. He went to the ten and cured them. This having happened required an official confirmation by the local religious authorities. Jesus directed them to show themselves to the local priests for verification.

But there is more to the story. One of those cured then returned to thank Jesus. But only one. So, the evangelist is telling his readers that it’s certainly good to be helped by Jesus, but it’s also important to be grateful for what has been done. I see this as an important lesson for all of us.

We have been given so much from God. First, we are created by God at the very beginning of our existence, Call this a foundational miracle. But then we continue to survive each day by God’s continued presence, moment by moment, day after day. And God’s love extends to all who have come to be, who are with us now and all who will follow. While there may be many diverse ways of understanding all this, we are all God’s people.  

So be aware of all this divine bountifulness to each of us. Daily give thanks to God for all God’s gifts. And this invitation to be grateful applies to all of us, no matter what our religion or beliefs. We are all God’s children, and all are loved by God.   

David M. Thomas, PhD