What foreigners can teach us

Today’s Gospel reading underscores the importance of gratitude and faith in our journey of discipleship.

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Luke uses the story of the ten lepers who call out to Jesus to have pity on them. Trusting in Jesus' word and his command to show themselves to the priests, they find themselves cleansed on their way.

The nine, who are Jews, proceed to Jerusalem to be examined by priests who certify that they are clean and so can join their community. The Samaritan, whose people do not worship in Jerusalem, instead returns to Jesus to do him homage and thank him. It is his faith in Jesus as the prophet of God, even as the Taheb (essentially the Samaritan equivalent of the Jewish Messiah) that saves him, which is more than being cleansed of his leprosy.