My friends, I will begin today letting you know once again, why I choose to not name this feast, “Christ the King.”  First of all, this title was not claimed by Jesus—it was a title we humans gave him and one, he did not want.

   People, mainly some of his early followers, wanted a “Messiah” who would take on their enemies, the Romans.  They didn’t realize that Jesus’ mission was about so much more—to show humankind, the way, the truth, and the life—that of justice for all. 

   It is important for us to remember that this particular feast is only about 100 years old, so fairly new for us Catholics and other Christian denominations.  All the Christian denominations carry in their belief systems the notion of Christ as “King” who will come to judge us at the end of time. 

   Pope Pius XI, in 1925, established this feast as he felt that Catholics were forgetting about Jesus and that this feast would re-establish his place in our lives.  It was too bad that the emphasis was in “Jesus’ power over us” rather than uplifting his life and encouraging us humans to “walk in his footsteps.” 

   All of the Scripture readings for this weekend give us aspects of what it is to be a “king” or “leader,” in the best sense of the word.  Let’s take a look.  In the first reading from Samuel, the people came to David calling him forth to lead them.  Their prophetic words, “Here we are,” thus presenting David with a community to lead.  This people saw previously, David’s ability and reminded him, a former shepherd, that God was now calling him to “shepherd” people. As an aside, in the early days of Roman Catholic Women Priests ordinations, many of us, myself included, placed the words, “Here we are,” on banners, and added, “We are ready” as our statement of faith in what God was doing within us. 

   One of the reasons why it is important to use the correct names for our leaders is our human tendency to “take the power” and run with it, forgetting “why” this power was entrusted to us in the 1^st place.  The story of David lets us know this—he forgot to “shepherd” and opted for “reigning” instead, until he once again found his way. 

   In present day, we see those with power in our Church wanting titles and other privileges—we call it “clericalism” –something Pope Francis has cautioned against.  In fact, he has advocated that those called to serve, remember that they are “servants” and to be more like “shepherds” than “lords.” 

   In the second reading from Corinthians, again we see Paul’s lack of having known Jesus in his humanity.  Paul’s relationship was with “the Christ” and unfortunately, he is, kind of stuck in the language of, “forgiveness of sins” and that the Christ, in the person of Jesus took care of that by “dying on the cross.” 

   Let’s look then to the gospel from Luke and jump into the conversation between Jesus and the “more open-minded criminal” dying next to him on the cross to perhaps get some clarity around the issues of “kingship” and “servanthood.” 

    The more open-minded criminal is taking issue with the one on the other side of Jesus, complaining to him about if he is the Messiah, why then doesn’t he save himself and them. “We deserve it after all, [he says]—we are paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong.” Now we know Jesus’ answer that indeed the more open-minded one would be with him, in paradise, soon.  But for our purposes, let’s look at this more open-minded criminal’s assessment of Jesus. 

   The fact is, what he said about Jesus is not entirely true—that “Jesus had done nothing wrong.”  In the eyes of the powers-that-were in Jesus’ time—he had done plenty wrong! Jesus was advocating that the leaders deal out justice for all, especially the least among them, and criticizing them for not being the “servants” that true kings and leaders should be.  The only way to silence such a one was the punishment that Jesus was suffering. 

   So my friends, if we are to be true followers of our brother Jesus, then we cannot get caught up in the theology “that God sent Jesus to die for our sins.”  If we stay there, then Jesus “does” it all—there is nothing for us to do, but live, without ever questioning, never looking at ourselves, never taking the responsibility for our own actions and doing our part. 

   Jesus came to show us how to live our human experience in the best way.  Sometimes that may get us into trouble, as it did Jesus, but we will be standing on some pretty strong shoulders. We are expected as Jesus’ followers to get out into our world, in the midst of the sometimes mess we find there and to do our part to make things better.  A friend recently shared a favorite quote from Dan Berrigan with me, which seems appropriate here.  “If you want to follow Jesus, you better look good on wood!” 

   In conclusion then, let’s hone in on Jesus’ true mission for each of us—anything that isn’t ultimately about attempting to be our best through kindness, mercy, and justice for all, including ourselves—basically about love, should not be wasting our time.  And you will notice that I included, “ourselves,” as we can’t, in love, be there for others if we forget ourselves. It’s a balance.

   So, we end where we started—what to call this feast.  As we conclude one Church Year and start another next Sunday, with the beginning of Advent, I would suggest that we remember Jesus, our brother, as a “servant” instead of a “king” as walking in the footsteps of the first might be much more doable than the second.  Amen? Amen!

      My friends, even a cursory look at this Sunday’s Scriptures, gives us a clear picture that we are being asked to reflect carefully on our lives, who we have been, and what we have been about during this last Church Year, soon coming to an end—in fact, next week with the Feast of Jesus, the Christ, our Brother, and Friend.  Many of us have known of this feast, in the past as, Christ the King—one that I have suggested that we move away from as Jesus never claimed to be a “king.”  More on that next week. 

   I have always appreciated this time of year, in its physical and spiritual aspects.  For us living in the Midwest, specifically in Minnesota, this time of year calls us to “putting to bed” outside plants, securing our homes for the onslaught of colder temperatures that living here demands of us. 

   Colder temps and less light in our days move us indoors more, “looking for light” in other ways.  I will just let you imagine for yourselves, what brings “light” into your lives when outdoor light is less.  For me, it allows more time to be creative, as in getting back to “painting” as art, something that I have taken up in the last several years.  And for each of you, there is no doubt something that you enjoy doing when you are freed from many of the outdoor activities that take up our lives in the warmer months. 

   In a spiritual sense, this time of year, as I indicated at the beginning of this homily, calls us to assess our personal lives, how and if we have been faithful in our Christian journeys, in somewhat of a consistent way, both, “when convenient and when inconvenient,” as Paul says in another place. 

The Scriptures for this week have a bit of “urgency” about striving, as I always say here, “to be our best selves,” but there is the “realization,” in Jesus, who lived our human life, that this isn’t always easy. 

   Jesus, in Luke’s gospel selection today, lets us know, in no uncertain terms, this reality.  “All will hate you because of me…[but] have patient endurance”— [I will be with you.]  It seems that Jesus is letting us know that the important thing is that we keep trying!  So, this time in our Church Year gives us the opportunity to, “take a look and see where change is perhaps needed. 

   Earlier I stated that today’s Scriptures do call us to a bit of “urgency”—our God does keep wanting and expecting us to be about “justice” in our world, as the psalmist says today, even if we don’t always do it perfectly.  The prophet Malachi lays out this urgency— “the day is coming …when all the proud and evildoers will be stubble.” 

   Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians basically says, and I paraphrase, “present [your] selves as an example for [others] to imitate.”  Additionally, he tells them, “to be disciplined” [in their lives]. It might be good for each of us in these last days of the Church Year, as we assess, how we are doing in, “our walk with Jesus,” to imagine if we would be proud to have others “imitate our actions in the world.”

   The words of the Alleluia verse for today might be a good reflection as we prepare for a new Church Year soon— “I chose you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last.” 

   A good friend of mine and Robert’s over the years, Jim Fitzpatrick, died three years ago at this time Jim had been an active priest in our diocese for 10 years before needing to leave that ministry and go on to spend the remainder of his almost 50 years of life, in what the Church hierarchy would call, “inactive” ministry with his wife, Karen. The funny thing is that even though he ceased his “active” ministry as a diocesan priest, his life was anything but, “inactive.”  He and Karen were great supporters of women being ordained and could be found at many women’s ordinations, just one activity for justice that kept them both “active.” 

   One of the things I loved most about him, when he was my teacher in Old Testament my first year of high school, was his enthusiasm—we might say, “his fire for life!”  In fact, he was always saying, “C’mon, catch fire,” when we as students were less-than-interested. 

   At his funeral, another of his students, a School Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Catherine Bertrand, who gave the homily, shared that the gospel used that day was Jim’s favorite—that of the Transfiguration, because it is the only place in Scripture, he told her, where it says, “It is good for us to be here.”  I personally have always loved this passage too, and it does speak so well of what Jim was about in his life and what we are all to be about in our lives.  Think what it would mean if even on occasion we thought in our daily lives, “it is [indeed] good to be here.” How might all that we do then, change? 

   Our mission as Jesus’ followers is to get out into our world, do our piece as that is made known to us, and basically, “catch fire” as my friend Jim always encouraged in his students. 

   When we claim to follow our brother Jesus, it should be obvious to our world, that this is what we are about—making a difference, as he did!  Another prophet, not truly appreciated in his lifetime, Teilhard de Chardin had this to say: “Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides, and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love.  Then, for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire.” 

   So my friends, as we reflect on this past year, who and what we have been in our world, and if we haven’t yet “caught fire,” perhaps plan on doing so in the next year. 

Amen? Amen! 

My friends, some of you may have wondered as you heard the chosen readings for today, “Of what good are these messages for me in my life.”  My first read of these Scriptures left me feeling somewhat the same.  From the standpoint of a homilist, I found myself thinking, what can I say of any merit here? Some homilists have been known to choose alternate readings to speak on when confronted with such readings. 

   I will begin by saying that I never have swayed from the readings of a particular Sunday, unless the Mass takes on a different view such as when we do our Mary Magdala service each year on a Sunday.  I choose not to sway from the given readings for the most part because I truly feel that the Spirit can and does work through even the most seemingly negative and hard to apply readings, giving direction for our present day lives.  This week’s set of readings definitely call us to get beyond the surface level and dig deeper for a meaning that we can hold onto.  This is true definitely for the first reading from Maccabees and for the gospel reading from Luke as well. 

   The first reading from Maccabees is hard to get through as we contemplate the cruelty of the Greeks toward their Jewish captives, much less attempt to find a meaning to carry into our day-to-day lives—but we must try. 

   The gospel reading from Luke finds Jesus trying to take the powers-that-be, in his day to that deeper level as well, rather than quibbling over who should have possession of a wife in the next life, that all were married to in this life. Jesus, as in so many other cases must simply tell his challengers to, “get out of their small boxes,” realizing that God is offering them so much more, “that we can’t even imagine,” now. 

   The second reading from Paul to the Thessalonians is probably of most comfort and direction as it bears a message, that at face value, is of meaning for us today.  “Pray that we may be delivered from confused and evil persons.”  And additionally, “pray that the Word of Christ may progress and be hailed by many.” 

   It is always important that we remember, who we are, who we profess to follow, and as the Scripture says, [make present through your lives] “the Word of Christ.”  At the end of the day, the “prayers” must be translated into action, if we are to claim that we are “Christians”—followers of our brother Jesus. 

   Taking today’s readings, as a whole, I would say, they question us about, “what we are willing to commit to, in our lives, to make life better, and not just for ourselves, but for others too!”  As in the first reading, we are definitely called to faith, no matter what life may bring. 

   This past week, our president, Joe Biden, spoke to the nation –to all of us, in a non-partisan way, even though his detractors would disagree, asking that we would all protect our democratic way of living –that our actions as a nation would reflect the rights of the many, not just of the few, looking for power over the others. 

   He made this speech knowing full-well that many hearing him don’t hold the same values, but trusting that some, if not all, would rise to their best selves and protect our democratic way that looks out for the good of all, against the selfishness and ignorance of some. 

   Additionally, he spoke against the violence arising from individuals and groups who will only accept results that play into their needs to control as we move into elections this next week.  The president didn’t say it in so many words, but it is good to remember that our country was founded because of such abuse of power where the rights of all were not considered. 

   The Scriptures today, as I have said, call us to “dig deep” for the values that guide our lives—those things that get us out of bed every day—those things that are about our own good and that of our families, and additionally, about the good of all others too! Christianity calls us to no less! 

   You are all aware that Robert and I were away for almost three weeks this fall visiting friends and family members in somewhat of an epic trip across the western part of our country and back, covering some 4600 miles by car.  Given that we just celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary and the fact that we are both in our 70’s—age-wise, the thought came to us many times, that this is likely our last trip of this kind. 

   Now, while that may sound disconcerting to hear or think about, we realized the beauty too in thinking over these past, many years, both the ups and the downs, the joys, and the opportunities, and coming to a place of gratitude for all that has been. 

   As I listened to our president speak this past week, I heard his call, from the standpoint of his many years, to strive for our own personal best, not only for ourselves, but for all.  He moves and acts out of his own, personal Catholic faith and Christian values, as does each of us—values that don’t allow any of us to stop caring, even when discouraged by actions in our world that seem far less than, good. 

   So, because we all need the hope that good does win over evil, I will leave you with a few “nuggets of gold” from my last week or two:

• (From the news) –a little boy who had lost both his mom and dad, in separate ways, and was now living with an aunt, decided not to dwell on sadness, but to turn his grief on its head, so to speak, and instead strive to make others, smile.  He asked his aunt if they could buy some small plastic toys and go out into the community, gifting a toy to people they met in order to get them to smile.  He was able to make many smile, as we can imagine, and who knows how far the goodness went!
• A little dog named Charlie, who has come into the lives of our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, has become, an, “in-your-face” lover, and so it goes…
• I shared this last week, but it bears repeating, lay-led Unitarian Universalist communities are encouraged to begin all their services with a warm welcome to everyone present, making it most clear that the welcome is to each one, “just as you are”—happy, sad, disappointed, disillusioned—ready -to-quit, it doesn’t matter—you are welcome!

   Friends, there is much to be sad about in our world, but just for today, let’s “dig deep” to be hope-filled, faith-filled, loving, and willing to be our best, for ourselves and all others. And if you haven’t yet voted, do it soon, voting for those individuals who are committed too toward being their best, if they are given the chance to serve.  Amen? Amen!

  I always like it when this Gospel today comes around because it can teach us much about our relationship with God.  Zacchaeus merely wanted to see Jesus—he climbed the tree to get some height that his physical stature didn’t allow him.  Up the tree, he could see Jesus, safely, from a distance.  But Jesus had something else in mind—he wanted to know Zacchaeus in a more personal way—he wanted to come to his house—eat with him—talk with him—get to know him.  It is the same with us—Jesus wants to get to know us and share our lives—a concept we shouldn’t miss when reading this gospel. 

   On a deeper level, the story of Zacchaeus tells us something about the culture of the time and within that culture is where Jesus was able to reach Zacchaeus and enter into his life, giving him true life.  Zacchaeus, we know, was a tax-collector; a profession despised by any respectable Jew.  Being a tax-collector meant that you worked for the occupying Romans.  You were not salaried but took your living out of the extra taxes you demanded from your neighbors.  There was no limit on this—Zacchaeus merely had to pay a set amount to the Romans and anything above that was his. We know that he took care of himself because, as the Scriptures say, “he was wealthy.” 

   There are many interesting twists in this story and Jesus uses them all to teach those gathered, along with offering Zacchaeus something he could not buy through his tax-collecting. First, recalling that Zacchaeus was despised by his neighbors for his profession—he joined a group of others—Samaritans, prostitutes, and lepers, also looked down upon.  It was custom/culture to shun people who certainly weren’t living very good lives; it was thought, as to end up in such places and predicaments.  It would be the same if we were to assume that any of us who live with an ailment in life are getting what we deserve.

   Now we might look down on this kind of behavior, but in our day, has the mindset changed that much in dealing with people we don’t understand, can’t accept, or don’t approve of? We may ignore, refuse to listen, even judge them, taking comfort in a group of people who think and act as we do, telling ourselves that we are right and they, the “different ones,” are wrong.  We don’t wish to really hear a dissenting message, as it disturbs our comfort level.  

   Jesus, we know, was one to turn things upside down.  Everyone knew that respectable Jews didn’t enter the home of a known sinner and all the above mentioned; tax-collectors, prostitutes, and lepers, were in that category.  Who are the outcasts in our society, we might ask, that we choose not to be seen with? Jesus, our brother doesn’t let these culture mores stand in his way but enters Zacchaeus’ house anyway.  Jesus always looked deeper, wanted to get to know people; not just assume them worthless because of what they did.  He wanted to talk with them, hear their stories, love them where they were and then call them to be more. 

   We had a lovely example of the above last Sunday when we attended our friend’s Unitarian Universalist (UU) service.  The minister for the day—they are lay-led, prayed a beautiful beginning prayer welcoming all present, “just as we were,” sad, happy, depressed—whatever described us that day.  

   By the very fact that Jesus wanted to come to Zacchaeus’ house already told Zacchaeus that he was dealing with someone a cut above the rest, and one who could offer him true meaning in life.  One of the interesting twists in this story is that even though Zacchaeus was wealthy, which would indicate some power-over-others, he was short in stature—an issue, or it wouldn’t have been mentioned.  We know it impeded Zacchaeus from clearly seeing this important figure to his town, Jesus.  People in Zacchaeus’ time looked at any physical impediment as most likely caused by sin.  Being that Zacchaeus was a tax-collector, a despicable profession, to many, probably was a reason for his shortness, culture dictated.

   Once again Jesus calls the lie to such narrow thinking.  I want to come to your house today Zacchaeus—to dine with you.  I want to know you.  Jesus’ sentiment comes right out of the Wisdom reading for today, “You love all things that are created and loathe nothing.  Because Jesus looked into Zacchaeus’ heart, Zacchaeus found the strength—the grace, to change his life.   Jesus always chose the compassionate, understanding response—not the easier one that so many in his day and we too, at times choose.  If we can categorize those that aren’t like us, put them in a box—because they are wrong and we are right, we don’t need to ever grow closer, ever come to understanding.  And during this election year, there is plenty of grist for such “easy” sizing up of people.

    All the readings today are about salvation—not in the narrow sense of saving folks from their humanness—but in a much broader sense.  Jesus wants people to know, as described in the Wisdom reading, the Creator “loves all of creation,” or would not have made it!  We might also say, “God created only that which is loved!” Think of all the people in this world, categorized in any way—our God simply looks on with love. 

   Jesus, in the great heart of God, knows and understands Zacchaeus—he knows what he does for a living, and he knows why he does it—he knows all that makes up Zacchaeus’ life.  He doesn’t judge but moves to the next step—he respects Zacchaeus and loves him to be more than Zacchaeus thought was possible. 

   With Jesus, simple acceptance of Zacchaeus where he was, then gave him the strength through Jesus’ love to change his life—that is what salvation is really all about—finding the strength to be all we were created to be. No doubt, the idea behind the lovely welcoming at the UU service. 

   We have to smile when we think of Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax-collector, wielding, no doubt a good bit of power around Jericho, by nature of his occupation, climbing the sycamore tree like an excited child to see someone, he knew was important for reasons he wasn’t totally aware of.  He had the misconception that, up the tree, he probably wouldn’t be seen. Little did he know that Jesus was about to teach him and all of Jericho a significant lesson—God loved him right where he was and for what he was. 

   Certainly Jesus knew all that Zacchaeus was capable of and through love, selflessly given, compassion and understanding, Jesus brought about the transformation in him that at some level Zacchaeus was looking for when he climbed the tree that day. 

   For each of us friends, Jesus is on the look-out each and every day of our lives to enter in through the sorrows, the joys, the “ah-ha” moments.  We try to hide, in safe places too, up our own “trees”—behind our names, our situations—our pain, the people we know—thinking that God won’t find us or probably doesn’t care.  And if we think that, we would be wrong.  Let me say that again—if we think that our God doesn’t care—WE WOULD BE WRONG!  All we have to do is reflect on all the Scriptures where Jesus goes out of his way to make a difference in people’s lives like today with Zacchaeus.

   This gospel story tells us in no uncertain terms that our God wants to be part of our lives, wants us to be our best selves.  And it all begins, simply, with love.  Once we know we are loved and accepted, we can then share that love with others. 

   Paul prays today with us that God will continually make us worthy of our call as followers of Jesus, the Christ—that by his power in our lives, all good and works of faith will be accomplished through us.  On this next Tuesday, the Church will celebrate the feast of All Saints. No doubt, we will reflect on some of our favorite saints through the years, who have touched our lives. I think it is important to remember that we are all saints in God’s eyes—we all have that inherent goodness that our God created us with—we just need to show the truth of that each day in our lives. 

    On Wednesday, the Church will celebrate the feast of All Souls—a day we remember all those who have gone before us—many who have shown us the way. It is significant that near the end of the church year, we reflect on who we are in God’s eyes, who have been the people who have touched and mentored us in life and make a resolution to be all that we can be in their memory, going forward.

   Each week we pray for those who have died when we gather here for liturgy. As a community we have created a book that we can open each year during the month of November and remember in a special way all those who have gone before us who have helped make us who we are. So, beginning next Sunday and throughout the month of November, I will invite you to record the names, birth, and death dates of your loved ones. This special book is our parish’s Book of Life.

   Paul’s prayer today, that all good and works of faith be accomplished through us is a mighty challenge. My friends—let us pray for the grace to be faithful to this call.   Amen? Amen!

   My friends, it seems that we are often called to “faith” in the Scripture readings given us to reflect on each week.  Faith, we can then assume, must be very important in our walk with our brother Jesus to be mentioned so many times.

   Therefore, it is important to have a working definition of just what, “faith” is in order to reflect on, talk about, and determine why it is so important.  Very simply, “faith” is believing in something or someone for which we don’t have the “whole story,” we might say, yet we believe anyway. 

   We might also say that every belief system, Christianity included, has aspects about it that just can’t be known, yet again, people believe anyway.  This is curious, and probably the only way to make sense of it all is to look within ourselves and ask, what we believe and why we believe it. 

   Those who look at the world in a rather, “black and white” way are prone to say, by way of explanation, not, what “faith is,” but what it is not.  They might tell you, “If you doubt” that something is “true,” then you are lacking in that elusive quality, faith. 

   Someone wise once said, “the opposite of faith, is not doubt, but “certainty.”  Therefore, if we know something to be “certain,” we have no need of faith.  Dan Schutte, composer, and presenter of much, faith-filled music has said, “Faith is a matter of heart and mind.” 

   I believe it is important that he began with “heart,” instead of, “mind,” because going through the heart first, it seems to me, allows us, more readily, to accept what may not be clear at first glance.  Example: “Jesus rose from the dead.” If I were to ask each of you, if you believe, in fact, that, “Jesus rose from the dead,” you would probably say, “Yes, I believe that!”  And this may be true for a number of reasons, among them, the fact that you have heard this all your life and don’t question it, or, on some spiritual level, you do really believe. 

   Now if we were to come at this tenet of our faith through our minds first, we would have to deny the legitimacy of the claim as we have nothing in our “black and white” world to compare it to.  Dan Schutte has shared in the past his gratitude to religious sisters and priests along the way who taught him to question.  He put it this way: “Don’t leave your brain at the door of the church.”  Too many present day, church “leaders” are wont to have us do just that—disconnect our brains and just accept rules and regulations that, for the most part, are meant to “keep us in line,” rather than grow in our faith. “Doubting” something my friends, is really a challenge to make us grow. 

   Perhaps the reason that only one leper returned to Jesus to say, “thank you” for their cure, in today’s gospel was because of looking at the gift they received in a very “black and white” way, through their minds alone.  Looking through their hearts would have opened up so much more—love, gratitude, and ultimately, “faith” in something they couldn’t totally understand. 

   And the added piece which this gospel doesn’t address, is that the “cured one,” looking through their heart, loving the giver of so great a gift, can go out and do likewise for others.  Looking to the first reading from Kings in the story of Naaman, a non-Israelite, cured of leprosy by the prophet, Elisha, we see this more expansive response when the gift given is reflected upon through the heart first, rather than the mind.  And in order to totally understand Naaman’s response to being cured, a bit of explanation is necessary. 

    Naaman shows us the way when he sees what has happened—he praises the God of Elisha and takes it up a notch, wanting to gift Elisha for his goodness, his compassion toward him.  Because Elisha will take no reward for what God has called him to do, Naaman makes a strange request—that he be given two mule loads of earth.  It makes sense though, you see, when we learn that Naaman not only chooses to now follow and believe in Elisha’s God, but he wants to take some of the ground of Israel back to his own country where upon it (the ground) he can praise this God who was so gracious and compassionate as to cure him of his affliction.  A true “faith” response should always move us to, “pass it forward,” as it were—to do good to others as good has been done for us.

   If we are truly responding in faith to life around us, there should always be “growth.’  The action should never be just about us. In Paul’s letter to Timothy we hear this truth in another way— “there is no chaining the Word of God[!]” And Paul goes on. [Even]if we are unfaithful, Christ will still remain faithful [to us].

   Our whole journey in this human experience that each of us has is about striving, evermore completely to follow Jesus, the Christ in our walk of faith rather than that of the nine lepers who took the gift and ran. 

   One final thought that I would raise for us to reflect on is something that Jesus thought important to say in his time and therefore it would be good for us to consider as well.  It seems that the “cured one” who returned was a Samaritan—a cultural and social outcast in the minds of most law-abiding Jews in Jesus’ time.  Is it possible that “good” can be found in the likes of a Samaritan, Jesus seems to be asking.  In our own time, who are the “Samaritans” that we may not accept, trust, or want to reach out to in faith? —immigrants, Native peoples in our own country, women, LGBTQ+ folks.  Faith, my friends, calls us into areas of “doubt” if it is the true article.

   In conclusion then, there are no assurances, but faith will lead to some awesome places if we can let go of our need for certainty and our response to this new-found freedom is likely to be that of the one, returning leper—now cured—gratitude.  Amen? Amen!