Jesus said: There are ten cleansed. Where are the nine?
Luke 17, 17

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, a half-Jewish, half-pagan country. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, because they could not approach because of the risk of infection. They called Jesus, Master, have mercy on us (they knew Jesus from stories and they knew the key to healing is: mercy) When Jesus saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests! And while they went to the priests, they were cleansed. Then one of them turned back when he saw that he was healed; and he praised God with a loud voice. He threw himself to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus said: There are ten cleansed. Where are the nine? Has no-one returned to give glory to God, except this stranger? And He said to him: Arise, and go! Your faith has healed you. Jesus was very pleased with this outcast that he had come back and had given God the glory. In heaven, there was a feast! A lost child of God got rescued! One more man again for the heavens!
But Jesus was also thinking of the others for whom he had wasted his grace in vain. They have also become healthy, but only physically. He kept thinking – thinking of justice,  heaven, life and death. How happy He would have been with them! But they preferred a normal life without Jesus.
How often has Jesus done good things for us! And we always say thank you. But as time goes by, our gratitude starts to fade, too. Do we belong to the nine for whom Jesus wasted His love and mercy? If He was our Lord when He saved and healed us why don’t we follow Him unconditionally? Why do we remain comfortably sitting on the sofa? Why aren’t our hearts burning for Him, our Savior?

O Jesus! You know that I love you. You have redeemed me, ransomed, cleaned and filled me with Your Spirit. You give me peace and joy. Yes, I will belong to You forever! I will follow you, wherever You go, because I love You and trust You.

Bible Reading Today: 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 – 12