On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Luke 17:11–19 (RSV)
'As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by His command, and by His authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.' LBW p. 56
How long does this great blessing from God the Father linger in your thoughts once the words are past? Do we offer praise and thanksgiving to God once the absolution is proclaimed, or have we moved on in the liturgy? We receive this great mercy every time we gather to hear the Word and receive the Holy Supper, but does it linger beyond a brief moment?
Perhaps it makes sense that the nine lepers he healed did not return to offer Him praise and thanksgiving. Just as we move quickly from that beautiful moment when we hear the absolution to other things, so the nine lepers moved on.
It is a great miracle as Jesus liberated ten lepers from a lingering death. It is an even greater miracle than the one turned back to Jesus, the source of his healing. May we never forget the One who has healed us.