A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 10 October 2010 by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 66:1-12 and Luke 17:11-19.
The gospel account today is about a healing story. Ten people who were suffering from skin disease cried for help from Jesus. Jesus healed all of them but only one Samaritan returned to him, to give praises to God and thank Jesus for what he had done for him. The other nine people who were healed did not return. Jesus commended this Samaritan and further rewarded him by assuring him that ‘his faith has made him well’.
The story once again demonstrates Jesus’ compassion to people who are marginalized and isolated. Both Samaritans and the leper (the skin disease patients) were totally outcasts in the Jewish community during Jesus’ time. They represent people being discriminated and rejected by the society. What Jesus did, was to break the social taboo and took the risk of being blamed by the mainstream society. He accepted the untouchables by addressing their needs and curing them.
Nine lepers who were healed did not come back to Jesus. They did not turn back to bring glory and praises to God. Only this Samaritan did it. The reaction of the nine people reflects a common phenomenon. Many people are used to taking for granted others’ help. Are we also one of those? If yes, we need to reflect and confess.
Jesus responded to the Samaritan’s praise to God by saying ‘his faith has made him well’ (Luke 17:19). In here, Jesus reiterates that true faith in God through him consists of praising God and giving thanks to Him. In addition, a genuine deliverance by God that includes the restoration of a person’s whole life, requires his/her reconnection with God. A reconnection with the source of life and love, our almighty God, is very important.
Truth faith or a practice of faith includes our recognition of God’s work through Jesus Christ our savior. Our praise and thanksgiving to God and God’s agent to heal and to restore our wholeness, is concrete action.
God heals us and redeems us through Jesus Christ. We cannot be fully redeemed unless we recognize it through our praise and thanksgiving whole-heartedly.
In the narrative description, the Samaritan ‘praise God in loud voice’. The description of ‘loud voice’ has caught my attention. The Samaritan ‘praise God in loud voice’ is indicative. This means whenever we appreciate and thank God and people who have helped us, we need to do it very explicitly with words and actions. We cannot just keep it inside without verbal expression. We need to overcome shyness and fear. Some people may find it embarrassing or difficult to praise and thank others for some reasons. In a culture where we are not used to praise and appreciate others, we need to identify alternatives to demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation. To act explicitly with courage, without hiding and without any reservation, in praising and thanking God is a key.
God has saved us, by healing our wounds and restoring our life in full. Through Jesus, God has taken the initiative. However, God needs our response. True love and caring is something mutual. God loves His people. At the same time, God needs our love in response to Him. That’s why in God’s greatest commandment, we are required to love God with all our mind, all our heart, all our soul and all our strength. To praise and give thanks are the concrete act for our love to God. It is like our relationship with our parents who love and care for us. We need to appreciate our parents of what they have done for us since we were born. If we are able to demonstrate our gratitude to others, it would help to nurture a loving relationship which is mutually accepting and embracing. Imagine if people spend more of their time and hearts to appreciate and being thankful to others, they will be less likely to blame and complain one another. How can people not be happy in this kind of relationship?
A life with praise and thanksgiving is a grace and gift from God. Let’s develop ourselves with this virtue of gratitude and appreciating others. We would definitely enjoy more fully in life with joy.
Every year, Wai Ji Sunday is held for staff and clients of Wai Ji to come and worship with us. The time of worship together and in the fellowship embracing each other is a strong sign of praising God and celebrating the love of our Lord Jesus Christ who has never forgotten those who are discriminated and marginalized. I really appreciate this occasion every year. Our active participation is our grateful response to God for His love and compassion, in the past, now and in future.
The gospel account today is about a healing story. Ten people who were suffering from skin disease cried for help from Jesus. Jesus healed all of them but only one Samaritan returned to him, to give praises to God and thank Jesus for what he had done for him. The other nine people who were healed did not return. Jesus commended this Samaritan and further rewarded him by assuring him that ‘his faith has made him well’.
The story once again demonstrates Jesus’ compassion to people who are marginalized and isolated. Both Samaritans and the leper (the skin disease patients) were totally outcasts in the Jewish community during Jesus’ time. They represent people being discriminated and rejected by the society. What Jesus did, was to break the social taboo and took the risk of being blamed by the mainstream society. He accepted the untouchables by addressing their needs and curing them.
Nine lepers who were healed did not come back to Jesus. They did not turn back to bring glory and praises to God. Only this Samaritan did it. The reaction of the nine people reflects a common phenomenon. Many people are used to taking for granted others’ help. Are we also one of those? If yes, we need to reflect and confess.
Jesus responded to the Samaritan’s praise to God by saying ‘his faith has made him well’ (Luke 17:19). In here, Jesus reiterates that true faith in God through him consists of praising God and giving thanks to Him. In addition, a genuine deliverance by God that includes the restoration of a person’s whole life, requires his/her reconnection with God. A reconnection with the source of life and love, our almighty God, is very important.
Truth faith or a practice of faith includes our recognition of God’s work through Jesus Christ our savior. Our praise and thanksgiving to God and God’s agent to heal and to restore our wholeness, is concrete action.
God heals us and redeems us through Jesus Christ. We cannot be fully redeemed unless we recognize it through our praise and thanksgiving whole-heartedly.
In the narrative description, the Samaritan ‘praise God in loud voice’. The description of ‘loud voice’ has caught my attention. The Samaritan ‘praise God in loud voice’ is indicative. This means whenever we appreciate and thank God and people who have helped us, we need to do it very explicitly with words and actions. We cannot just keep it inside without verbal expression. We need to overcome shyness and fear. Some people may find it embarrassing or difficult to praise and thank others for some reasons. In a culture where we are not used to praise and appreciate others, we need to identify alternatives to demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation. To act explicitly with courage, without hiding and without any reservation, in praising and thanking God is a key.
God has saved us, by healing our wounds and restoring our life in full. Through Jesus, God has taken the initiative. However, God needs our response. True love and caring is something mutual. God loves His people. At the same time, God needs our love in response to Him. That’s why in God’s greatest commandment, we are required to love God with all our mind, all our heart, all our soul and all our strength. To praise and give thanks are the concrete act for our love to God. It is like our relationship with our parents who love and care for us. We need to appreciate our parents of what they have done for us since we were born. If we are able to demonstrate our gratitude to others, it would help to nurture a loving relationship which is mutually accepting and embracing. Imagine if people spend more of their time and hearts to appreciate and being thankful to others, they will be less likely to blame and complain one another. How can people not be happy in this kind of relationship?
A life with praise and thanksgiving is a grace and gift from God. Let’s develop ourselves with this virtue of gratitude and appreciating others. We would definitely enjoy more fully in life with joy.
Every year, Wai Ji Sunday is held for staff and clients of Wai Ji to come and worship with us. The time of worship together and in the fellowship embracing each other is a strong sign of praising God and celebrating the love of our Lord Jesus Christ who has never forgotten those who are discriminated and marginalized. I really appreciate this occasion every year. Our active participation is our grateful response to God for His love and compassion, in the past, now and in future.