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Father George's Letter

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Written by: Fr George

THE TEN LEPERS.

 

 

 

(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our  temple.”)

 

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help ln in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:15-16)  

 

SUNDAY 19^th JANUARY. SUNDAY OF THE TEN LEPERS. St. Macarius the Great of Egypt (c 391). St. Macarius of Alexandria (c 394). St. Branwalader of Cornwall & the Chanel Islands (6^th). Righteous Theodore of Novgorod, Fool-for-Christ (1392). St. Mark, Archbishop of Ephesus.

 

“ I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

God’s power to guide me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s eyes to watch over me,

God’s ears to hear me,

God’s words to give me speech,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to shelter me,

God’s host to secure me.”

(Ancient Celtic Prayer)

TODAY’S GOSPEL. Luke 17:1GOSPEL. “Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and he fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “We’re there not ten cleansed? But we’re are the nine? “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.””

    

Leprosy is a contagious disease that is transmitted by close contact with an infected person over a period of time. Today it is curable if detected early, preventing disfigurement and disability. It is still a problem in parts of the world today and the stigma that we see in the Gospels and the Old Testament associated with leprosy is still with us. In the Old Testament Naaman a great man from another country suffering from leprosy, was healed when told by the Prophet Elisha to wash seven times in the River Jordan. He too was a foreigner in Israel. Of the ten lepers only one turned back to give thanks for his cure and we are told he is a Samaritan, a foreigner. This poor man was doubly stigmatised by having leprosy and being a Samaritan among Jews.

It doesn’t matter that he was a Samaritan, his cultural and ethnic background was of no importance to Christ. What is important is that Jesus tells him that it was his faith that cured him. His thanks stand in stark contrast to the nine who rushed off to see the priests to be free from being outcasts in society. The Samaritan when realising that he was cured does not need to see a priest first, as his faith in Christ brings him to his knees in thanks. God’s love also continues with the nine who were also cured but forgot or were so overwhelmed to say “thank you”. Such is God’s love.

To some degree or other we are all lepers as we are the imperfect and broken human beings that Christ’s coming into the world is able to cure. Our lack of faith and love can stop us from turning back to Him to say “thank you”. The greatest gift that we can offer in thanks is to turn to Him in all our circumstances so that He can tell us “......go your way”. This means return to normality, to everyday life knowing that we have been cured of our leprosy. Naaman in the Old Testament was cured by bathing in the Jordan; how much greater is our cure in the immersion into the waters of the baptismal font and its great promise. Christ did not touch the lepers, His word being sufficient to heal them. He now touches us when we dare to receive Him in the Holy Mysteries, to be touched by Him is our great privilege, to be cured by Him is our great joy, to say thank you to Him, falling on our knees before Him is our true humility. May God bless us all that we may also go on our way.

 

                                                                                           Much Love,

 

                                                                                           Fr. George.

In honour of our Patron St. Kentigern whose feastday was on13th January  there will be a feast available after the Liturgy on Sunday. If you are able to bring anything to eat it will be gratefully received and shared by all.

Please continue to pray for the needy and sick and for the peacemakers of the world.

 

                                                                          

     

 

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