Luke 17:17-21: a reflection

17Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.” 20Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; 21neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.”

When ten lepers are healed by Jesus, only one returns to give thanks, and Jesus marks the absence of the others. Weren't the ten cleansed? he asks. But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner? All ten received the mercy of healing; but only one turned back to give thanks, to give glory to God for what he had received. The other nine went on their way, enjoying the gift but forgetting the Giver. The one who returned to give thanks stood out, precisely because gratitude that returns to the Giver is rarer than we might think; and Jesus noticed both the one who came back and the nine who did not.

Notice the one who returned, and the nine who did not. All ten were healed; all ten received the same mercy. But only one turned back to give thanks and glorify God; the nine, having received the gift, went on without returning to the Giver. It is easy to receive God's mercies and go on our way, enjoying the gift but forgetting to return and give thanks. The one who came back was the exception, and Jesus marked it. Gratitude that actually returns to God to give thanks is rarer than receiving; nine received and forgot, one received and returned. To be the one who turns back to give thanks, rather than one of the nine who go on without a word, is what Jesus commends here.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to be those who return to give thanks to God, not those who receive his mercies and forget. We receive God's mercies daily, gift upon gift; and it is easy to enjoy them and go on our way, forgetting to return and give thanks, like the nine. But God looks for the one who turns back to give glory to him for what he has received. Do not be one of the nine who receive God's mercy and go on without thanks; be the one who returns to give thanks and glorify him. Return to give thanks to God for his mercies rather than receiving them and forgetting the Giver, as one healed leper turned back to glorify God while nine went on their way; for gratitude that returns to God is rarer than receiving, and God looks for those who come back to give thanks for what they have received rather than enjoying his gifts and forgetting him.

Lord Jesus, when ten lepers are healed by you, only one returns to give thanks, and you mark the absence of the others. Weren't the ten cleansed? you ask. But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner? All ten received the mercy of healing; but only one turned back to give thanks, to give glory to God for what he had received. The other nine went on their way, enjoying the gift but forgetting the Giver. Show me the one who returned, and the nine who did not. All ten were healed; all ten received the same mercy. But only one turned back to give thanks; the nine went on without returning to the Giver. It is easy to receive your mercies and go on my way, enjoying the gift but forgetting to return and give thanks. The one who came back was the exception, and you marked it. Gratitude that actually returns to you is rarer than receiving. Take that to my heart, for I am called to be one who returns to give thanks to you, not one who receives your mercies and forgets. I receive your mercies daily, gift upon gift; and it is easy to enjoy them and go on my way, forgetting to return and give thanks, like the nine. But you look for the one who turns back to give glory to you. Keep me from being one of the nine who receive your mercy and go on without thanks; help me be the one who returns to give thanks and glorify you, Lord, for what I have received.