Gratitude is a choice of our heart. It is a choice to stand apart and may be at times to even stand alone.
The story of the ten lepers is very familiar for us. They were united in raising their voice to Jesus. The sickness knew no boundaries; it affected them both Jew and the Samaritan alike. So they cried out in one accord “Master, have pity on us”. Their sickness required ‘social distancing’ so they had to be loud enough to be heard. Social distancing was not a very common term before the Corona pandemic. Nevertheless, haven’t there always been people in our society who are deeply crushed in their spirit because of the social distancing norms we as a society have imposed on them. Now in this pandemic year many of us have experienced the pain of being forcefully distanced from our family, friends and the community. It is indeed painful to be treated as a social outcast.
Since I needed an urgent eye test, during this lockdown period, I registered for an online medical check-up with an eye hospital. We took all precautions and went for our check-up; this was one of our first visits after the lock down. The roads were rather deserted and finally we reached the destination. People were let in one at a time maintaining the social distancing norms. Finally as our turn came the guard stood at a distance and offered the sanitizer and we were made to sit in the waiting section maintaining proper distance. We were asked to produce our details with the patients name and address and the reason for our visit. They checked the records and informed us that we will not be allowed to consult the doctor and asked us to leave immediately. They also informed us to come back when the area from which we were coming is no longer a “containment zone”. We left the place feeling ashamed and humiliated; in fact we were not aware that our area was under the containment category. I just had a taste of the pain of being socially isolated.
The dreaded skin disease leprosy was considered as a contagious disease in the Biblical times. People who suffered this sickness were excommunicated from the society and it required of them to stay away from the city. They were destined to live a lonely life away from their own family until they are healed and produced a certificate of wellness from the priest. They were social outcast and bore the pain of their sickness both physically and emotionally.
Jesus heard them and instructed them to get a ‘leprosy negative’ certificate from the priest. This was mandatory for reuniting with family and the community. He did not touch them nor pronounce any healing. While they were in a hurry to reach the priest and get the required certificate, they realized they have been healed. Each one at that point of time earned to be the first to present themselves before the priest for the certificate. In their eagerness to get back to the normal life, they were insensitive to the healer himself. But one man stood apart, surprisingly he was not a Jew, he was a Samaritan, the less privileged one.
His sensible choice of his heart- an attitude of gratitude made him stand tall. He knew there was no more ‘social distancing’ and went back to Jesus to express his gratefulness. Among those in his company, he was the only one privileged to experience an encounter with Jesus. It requires patience and courage to stand alone among the ungrateful. But it’s always rewarding to go back and not be in a hurry, it can turn out to be the most rewarding time and leave you with the assurance ‘ Rise and go’ for you have been made well not just from leprosy but also from the social distancing it demanded.
Yet I wonder how well the Samaritan was accepted by the rest of those nine Jews who were with him as lepers? Did the healing bring them together again or they were socially distanced? Sometimes sickness and vulnerability brings us together than wellness and affluence. How long will we distance ourselves from others in the name of caste, colour, sickness or gender?
Thoughts from Luke: 17:11-19
