Being Made Whole

In one of the Gospel stories, Jesus heals ten lepers; but only one returns to give thanks. It’s interesting, Jesus tells the man who turns back, “Your faith has saved you.” Another translation reads, “Your faith has made you whole.”

So, ten lepers were made clean, but one of them received something more.

A friend who is in recovery from narcotics, gave me some fresh insight into this passage. He said, “It’s one thing to be clean – clean from drugs, healed of a sickness, freed from anxiety or stress. All of those things Jesus can do. But what’s even more essential, is to allow God to make you whole.” The leper in the story does that by returning, recognizing the Higher Power, recognizing who it is who helped him get clean in the first place, and by giving thanks. Gratitude, faith and salvation are all tied up together in this story.

Today, may you remember the grace you’ve experienced in your life. May you return to the source and find a way to give thanks. And as you do, may you notice the grace of God making you whole.

Let us pray: God of Grace, thank you so much for children, laughter, smiles, hugs, for flowers and butterflies, for family and friends, for life and health, for sunny days, and for rain. Thank you for our church families, for grandmas and grandchildren, for goldfish, and for the ability to love. And God we could go on and on. Help us never, ever take these gifts for granted. You have given us so much. We receive and we receive, and we receive.

Remind us to appreciate, but not to stop there. Help us to allow our gratitude to be reflected in the way we live. As we have received, may we in turn give. For we pray in the name of the One who gave even his very life. Amen.