Gratitude in Healing

Posted by laurieetta on December 4, 2023 in Being Human | 1 Comment

This painting, Ten Lepers by James Christensen, illustrates the story found in Luke 17:11-19 where ten lepers, ostracized and desperate because of their disease, cry out to Jesus for mercy. Their physical ailment has separated them from society, but their collective plea has united them in their need for healing.

This painting beautifully pulls us into a narrative of gratitude and faith. Jesus, moved by compassion, instructs the lepers to show themselves to the priests. It is in their obedience that healing unfolds. All ten are cleansed, yet only one returns to express gratitude.

The lone leper who turns back is a Samaritan, an outsider in the eyes of many. Jesus, in his response, underscores the significance of gratitude. He wonders about the whereabouts of the other nine, emphasizing the rarity of returning thanks. This “outsider” becomes a beacon of faith and gratitude, receiving not only physical healing but a deeper spiritual restoration as well.

In our own lives, we can find parallels to the lepers’ story. How often do we, in times of desperation, cry out to God for help, only to forget to return with gratitude when blessings abound? The painting invites us to examine our hearts and cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving.

Being Human connection: Faith is not only found in our petitions but also in our response to God’s mercy and grace. As we navigate life’s challenges, may we be a people marked by gratitude, returning to Jesus with praise.

Featured art: James Christensen, Ten Lepers, 2002 © James C. Christensen