Jesus the Healer: Praise flowing from Mercy

The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.  ~James M. Barrie

Welcome dear friend, to a series on the healing stories of Jesus. The root of the word healing in New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness.  (UM Book of Worship)

I invite you to enter into a time of deep prayer with scripture as we explore one of the healing stories of Jesus.  Gather your journal if you have one, your bible and something to write with or simply use your computer, I've provided everything you need.

“As for the diseased person who has the infection, his clothes must be torn, the hair of his head must be unbound, he must cover his mustache, and he must call out ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ The whole time he has the infection he will be continually unclean. He must live in isolation, and his place of residence must be outside the camp.  Leviticus 13:45-46 (NET)

Our passage this week is about 10 men who were healed of their skin disease (leprosy) by the mercy and love of Jesus.  Only one returned to give his thanks and praise.  He was a foreigner, a Samaritan despised by the Jews.  We don't know if the others were Jewish but it is quite possible that they were as the text states Jesus was traveling in the land between the two peoples.  It is possible they were brought together by their affliction that separated them from their respective communities.  Sometimes, our issues bind us together with people we ordinarily would not be with. 

"Unclean, unclean!"  In Jesus' day anyone with a skin condition was thought to be unclean and contagious, separated from the community and shunned by their family and friends.  "Lepers," as they were called, were "untouchables."  In that day, leprosy was thought to be the result of sin, the punishment of God, so perhaps there were people who smugly felt lepers deserved to be rejected.  Others may have just been fearful because in the purity system of the day if one touched a leper that made them secondarily unclean as well.  Some may have simply been bound by the law and kept to it.  What else could they do, really?  It took an examination by the priest in order to be declared clean and welcomed back into the community. 

In our healing passage this week, the ten lepers stood at a distance and shouted "have mercy on us."  Can you imagine their desperation and their pitiful cries?  Have you ever been rejected by others?  Have you ever felt in need of mercy?   Or perhaps you have been with someone who felt isolated and rejected, someone you felt needed a little mercy in his/her life?   Immerse yourself in those feelings for a few moments as you enter into this passage ... begin with a gentle breath prayer to prepare your heart.  You can use this one or allow one to emerge from the depths of your own soul.

Breathing in ... Healing Jesus
Breathing out ... Have mercy on me
Repeat your breath prayer until you feel relaxed and centered

Pray for illumination of the text, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:   Healing Jesus, I suppose there are few things as emotionally devastating as being rejected by others, especially your family and friends.  Sometimes I am amazed as I read scripture at just how merciful you are.  As I read and meditate on your word, fill me with your love so that I can accept others the way you do.  Fill me with such mercy toward others and overflowing gratitude that I will always live to praise God.  Amen.

1.  Lectio/Read Luke 17:11-19 (NET) 
As you read, perhaps there is a word or phrase that will draw you to it.  Pay attention. Turn the word or phrase over and over in your mind.  Simply sit with your word or phrase and be grateful.  

Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to the man, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Cleansing of the Ten Lepers - Codex Aureus Epternacensis (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

2.  Meditatio/Meditation

Read the text a second time.  You may find that the same word has energy for you, but you may also find that another word has become more alive with meaning.  Pay attention to how God is illuminating the text with your life as the back drop.  What is God revealing to you?  Take the insights you receive and write freely, in your journal or on your computer.  Don't think about what you are writing as you let God lead you deeper, just write what flows.

3. Oratio/Pray 

Read the text a third time.  Then read your own writing if you wrote anything.  Are there any connections you can make between what you read and the writing that flowed from your reading?  How do you respond to the call you are hearing through the text?  How do you respond in words of praise and thanksgiving.   Take a moment to write a psalm of praise in your journal or on your computer as a prayer in response to what you have heard.  

4. Contemplatio/Contemplation 

Take a moment to pause.  Allow your breath prayer to emerge again.  You can use the same one from the beginning or perhaps a new one will emerge for you.  As you continue to pray, let the words fade away into silence. Spend time simply "be"ing with God. 

Breathing in ... Healing Jesus
Breathing out ... Praise God for your mercy
Repeat your breath prayer until it fades into silence ...

Allow your experience of praying with this healing story of Jesus to come to a close when you are ready to move on.  Let the Spirit lead you and guide you into the presence of God as you engage your life as a loving and healing presence to others.

Close with a prayer to send yourself into the world, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:  Healing Jesus, your mercy fills me with praise and gratitude.  I thank God for you.  Amen.