There were once 10 lepers. We don't see lepers in public these days. During Jesus' time, lepers were not allowed to get close to others. They were unclean, outcasted, and where people with little hope. Yet these 10 lepers heard of the famous carpenter rabbi Jesus. They heard that he was able to heal all kinds of diseases and even cast out unclean spirits. The greatest news of all was that Jesus was passing by them that day. The lepers assembled themselves in wait for Jesus to enter their village. When Jesus made his entry they shouted from a distance, "Have mercy on us!" They did not stop shouting to get the attention of our Lord Jesus. Jesus saw them and asked them to show themselves to the priest. In those days, the priests were the ones who were tasked to inspect the people with skin diseases. The priests were the ones to determine if the patient had leprosy. These were lepers, which meant they had been inspected by the priest before. Going to the priest again meant re-examination. However, they did what the Lord Jesus told them. As they obeyed they were cleansed. One of them, seeing himself cleansed, came back to thank and praise God. He came back to worship Jesus, falling down on his face. This person was a Samaritan. Samaritans were considered oppositions in those days (read Luke 9:51-55). This Samaritan was the only one who came back to thank Jesus, glorifying God. Jesus told him to arise and that he be made whole. Aren't all the lepers cleansed? Why the need to be made whole? Because cleansing is but the external healing but to be made whole is both internal and external healing. That includes Forgiveness of sin and acceptance by God. The Samaritan had it all.

May we not be contented with just being cleansed. May we come back to Jesus with thanksgiving, glorification to God and to be made whole.