The Samaritan Leper

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Children of Israel needed a minion, or ten men, to pray. (Remember the story of Abraham bargaining with God before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.) So when Jesus meets ten lepers on his way to Jerusalem, and when the evangelist informs us that one of them was a Samaritan, it quickly becomes evident that these outcasts from society have made this accommodation in order to be able to hang on to some semblance of normalcy in their lives. Normally, they wouldn't have had anything to do with a Samaritan, but in their need, they are ready to make concessions.

When they are cleansed, they no longer need the tenth man. They can go back to life in society and in their families. The Samaritan is once again on his own. While the others go to the Temple to show themselves to the priests, the Samaritan realizes that he will not be welcome there and returns to Jesus.

So while this story is a story of gratitude, it is also a story of isolation and of prejudice. The Samaritan is a model of gratitude for us, but he is also a model of acceptance and tolerance as he returns to give thanks to someone who is not of his own race. On so many levels, this story speaks volumes.