WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
October 14th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Unexpected Praise”
Luke 17:11-19
Over the last few years we have been hearing a great deal about torture. For most of us, it began when pictures from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq made their way to the mainstream press. When those stories came to light the party line was that the incidences were a result of a few bad apples. A few years later we are now finding out that much more was known. In fact, it turns out that we have actually been refining these techniques for over a generation.
As followers of Jesus, torture is something we know about. Any accurate representation of the crucifixion will make it clear that life of our Lord and Savoir, Jesus, ended through state sanctioned torture. It is amazing that the resurrection, which is the heart of our faith, serves as God’s no to these ways of death. God’s final Word shows us that another way of healing and wholeness is possible despite news to the contrary.
As more news of torture has made it to the public eye the information has been revealing. It turns out that information gathering is only one purpose of torture. The greater goal is to dehumanize those being tortured and also to strike fear in everyone else. Along with this, another key element is to separate and to isolate people making them believe they are all alone and in essence cease to become a human being. It is at this point where our scripture comes into play. In a world so addicted to the ways of death and destruction, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus shows that another way is not only possible but is, in fact, the will of God. Throughout his life, Jesus actively worked to overcome the dehumanizing practices of our world and in doing so, bringing healing and wholeness.
Jesus is on a journey. While the exact location is unclear, we know it is beyond the edges of civilization. It was a place where you would find the outcasts and undesirables, a place for the lepers. The law was very clear; all those with leprosy are to remain outside of the city. Exiled from the community, they were living as though they were no longer fully human. It was so bad that lepers were required to call out: “Unclean!” “Unclean!” In this way, everyone would know that their primary definition in life was unclean. The group in our story has so thoroughly internalized this belief they would not risk getting close to the only person they knew could heal them. They were so unclean, so unworthy that their only hope was mercy from afar.
Jesus’ response is not to proclaim their healing. Instead, he instructs them to go and see the priests. It is an empowering moment because they have a choice to make. Until now, they were just lepers whose whole existence was determined by the rules of society. But here, Jesus instructs them to go and see the priests. He does not promise healing. And, in fact, these people are not healed until they begin to move toward the priests, a move back into the community. The movement back into the community is at her heart of the healing. It is a powerful witness to the importance of the connectedness in the life of faith.
As these former lepers move back into the community, one of them realizes what has happened. He runs back and falls at the feet of Jesus and gives thanks and praise. It is an amazing moment because as the Samaritan realizes he is healed, he returns to Jesus to give thanks. It is also possible that he realized that upon his return, despite no longer being a leper, he would not have been welcomed by the priest. After all, even healed, Samaritans are outsiders, not welcomed in the community. The healing of these ten exiles should have brought wholeness to all. But once they are healed the old social arrangements and divisions continue to divide, leaving the Samaritan behind.
When all is said and done, it is the healed outcast who shows gratitude to God. The Samaritan, unclean by his very nature, knows how to give God thanks and praise. When it becomes clear to him that He has been healed he turns toward Jesus. In doing so, he is turning away from the social divisions of his day. But the other nine do not show gratitude and seem to embrace the return of their social privilege, even if it means leaving someone behind. Having been healed, they refuse to embrace the ways of Jesus. While they have received physical healing, they are still exiled from their fellow child of God.
To see this Samaritan praising God and embracing the life-giving ways of faith is a powerful witness. Despite living in a world which sees him a less that whole, the Samaritan becomes a witness to the radically inclusive grace available to all. Jesus’ instruction to the lepers, to show themselves to the priests, is an invitation to healing and wholeness which includes even a Samaritan. Unfortunately, it is an invitation that not all of them can embrace. In this story, and in life, the pull of social expectations and religious custom keep us from sharing and participating in this great good news. The stark truth is that anything which divides us from our brothers and sisters is a tool which works to dehumanize us. In this passage, Jesus is calling us to say no to those tools.
In this passage, the call embrace a life of healing and wholeness which says no to the ways of death and destruction is extended to us as well. Our response then is supposed to be one of gratitude giving thanks for the new way of life in Jesus Christ. However, we may also choose another way. That is the way of selfishness which would let us justify leaving our fellow lepers behind believing life can be found in the divisions of this world. So, instead, let us always seek the ways of gratitude and the ways of life. Not only by offering praise in worship and in prayer but in following the witness of the lone Samaritan. Let us follow this lone Samaritan in response to our own healing. Our lives then can become a witness to the truth that the ways of division, the ways of humiliation, the ways of torture, and yes even the ways of death, do not have the last word. The good news is this: It does not have to be this way… this is not what God intended… healing and wholeness are possible for all. And that is something for which we can all give thanks, everyday. Amen? Amen.
October 14th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Unexpected Praise”
Luke 17:11-19
Over the last few years we have been hearing a great deal about torture. For most of us, it began when pictures from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq made their way to the mainstream press. When those stories came to light the party line was that the incidences were a result of a few bad apples. A few years later we are now finding out that much more was known. In fact, it turns out that we have actually been refining these techniques for over a generation.
As followers of Jesus, torture is something we know about. Any accurate representation of the crucifixion will make it clear that life of our Lord and Savoir, Jesus, ended through state sanctioned torture. It is amazing that the resurrection, which is the heart of our faith, serves as God’s no to these ways of death. God’s final Word shows us that another way of healing and wholeness is possible despite news to the contrary.
As more news of torture has made it to the public eye the information has been revealing. It turns out that information gathering is only one purpose of torture. The greater goal is to dehumanize those being tortured and also to strike fear in everyone else. Along with this, another key element is to separate and to isolate people making them believe they are all alone and in essence cease to become a human being. It is at this point where our scripture comes into play. In a world so addicted to the ways of death and destruction, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus shows that another way is not only possible but is, in fact, the will of God. Throughout his life, Jesus actively worked to overcome the dehumanizing practices of our world and in doing so, bringing healing and wholeness.
Jesus is on a journey. While the exact location is unclear, we know it is beyond the edges of civilization. It was a place where you would find the outcasts and undesirables, a place for the lepers. The law was very clear; all those with leprosy are to remain outside of the city. Exiled from the community, they were living as though they were no longer fully human. It was so bad that lepers were required to call out: “Unclean!” “Unclean!” In this way, everyone would know that their primary definition in life was unclean. The group in our story has so thoroughly internalized this belief they would not risk getting close to the only person they knew could heal them. They were so unclean, so unworthy that their only hope was mercy from afar.
Jesus’ response is not to proclaim their healing. Instead, he instructs them to go and see the priests. It is an empowering moment because they have a choice to make. Until now, they were just lepers whose whole existence was determined by the rules of society. But here, Jesus instructs them to go and see the priests. He does not promise healing. And, in fact, these people are not healed until they begin to move toward the priests, a move back into the community. The movement back into the community is at her heart of the healing. It is a powerful witness to the importance of the connectedness in the life of faith.
As these former lepers move back into the community, one of them realizes what has happened. He runs back and falls at the feet of Jesus and gives thanks and praise. It is an amazing moment because as the Samaritan realizes he is healed, he returns to Jesus to give thanks. It is also possible that he realized that upon his return, despite no longer being a leper, he would not have been welcomed by the priest. After all, even healed, Samaritans are outsiders, not welcomed in the community. The healing of these ten exiles should have brought wholeness to all. But once they are healed the old social arrangements and divisions continue to divide, leaving the Samaritan behind.
When all is said and done, it is the healed outcast who shows gratitude to God. The Samaritan, unclean by his very nature, knows how to give God thanks and praise. When it becomes clear to him that He has been healed he turns toward Jesus. In doing so, he is turning away from the social divisions of his day. But the other nine do not show gratitude and seem to embrace the return of their social privilege, even if it means leaving someone behind. Having been healed, they refuse to embrace the ways of Jesus. While they have received physical healing, they are still exiled from their fellow child of God.
To see this Samaritan praising God and embracing the life-giving ways of faith is a powerful witness. Despite living in a world which sees him a less that whole, the Samaritan becomes a witness to the radically inclusive grace available to all. Jesus’ instruction to the lepers, to show themselves to the priests, is an invitation to healing and wholeness which includes even a Samaritan. Unfortunately, it is an invitation that not all of them can embrace. In this story, and in life, the pull of social expectations and religious custom keep us from sharing and participating in this great good news. The stark truth is that anything which divides us from our brothers and sisters is a tool which works to dehumanize us. In this passage, Jesus is calling us to say no to those tools.
In this passage, the call embrace a life of healing and wholeness which says no to the ways of death and destruction is extended to us as well. Our response then is supposed to be one of gratitude giving thanks for the new way of life in Jesus Christ. However, we may also choose another way. That is the way of selfishness which would let us justify leaving our fellow lepers behind believing life can be found in the divisions of this world. So, instead, let us always seek the ways of gratitude and the ways of life. Not only by offering praise in worship and in prayer but in following the witness of the lone Samaritan. Let us follow this lone Samaritan in response to our own healing. Our lives then can become a witness to the truth that the ways of division, the ways of humiliation, the ways of torture, and yes even the ways of death, do not have the last word. The good news is this: It does not have to be this way… this is not what God intended… healing and wholeness are possible for all. And that is something for which we can all give thanks, everyday. Amen? Amen.
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