2 Kings 5: 14-17
Psalm 98: 1-4
2 Timothy 2: 8-13
Luke 17: 11-19
"Good fences make good neighbors" goes the famous line from Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" , and even more so, boundaries were important in the time of Jesus.
By their skin condition (most probably not Hansen's disease as we know it today), they had been cast out of the community, for fear that their impurity would make others likewise impure. In healing them, Jesus was not only restoring their physical health, but allowing them to regain participation in their religious tradition. So the nine who left were simply following the law, being readmitted by the priests to the community through the proper channels. It's worth noting that the one who did return to thank Jesus was a Samaritan- an outsider among outsiders, and for whom going to the temple was not an option. So, he returns to the one who enabled his renewal of health.
Jesus repeatedly 'breaks the rules' by transcending established boundaries in order to heal and restore. And while rules are certainly essential for good order in society and church, letting rules become an idol can keep us from recognizing the presence of Christ in our midst.
- How have you been blessed?
- Have you thanked God?
We will welcome Ilfra into the full communion of the Catholic Church with confirmation and first communion this Sunday at the 11:30am Mass.
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