Instead of allowing people to slowly fade, Jesus leads us to take the first step toward bringing them back home.
It is refreshing to see this text appear in the readings not on Thanksgiving Day. For reasons beyond my understanding, the lectionary appoints this text for every Thanksgiving Day (including the Canadian Thanksgiving Day, which this year is October 13). Besides showing a lack of imagination (think of all the other wonderful Gospel readings that could lead us to give thanks), the near-exclusive use of this particular one on Thanksgiving Day has effectively reduced it to a morality tale about saying, “Thank you.” This is unfortunate, to say the least.
But let us look on the bright side. This Sunday we get a crack at the text without the baggage of turkey in the oven and pumpkin pie on the mind. I suggest you take advantage!
As you have probably guessed, I recommend focusing on the first half of this reading. Rather than rehearsing (again) Jesus’ questions about those who did not return to praise Him, there are several things in the first few verses which would be helpful for your hearers to contemplate on this Sunday. You could narrow it down to two fundamental Christian truths:
- Jesus is the Master.
- Jesus restores to community those who have been alienated.
Truth #1: Jesus is the Master.
We know very little about these ten men. We do not know their names. We do not know which town they were from. We do not know how old they were, what kind of families they had, or how long they had been there. We do not even really know much about their disease. All we know is they were alienated.
Then came Jesus. He was not coming to visit them. He was just passing through town on His way to Jerusalem. But then, from a distance, He heard their cries: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (verse 13). Did you notice what they called Him? Not Teacher. Not Savior. Not Son of David. Not Messiah. They called Jesus “Master”... and they were right.
Much like the basic Christian confession that “Jesus is Lord,” calling Jesus Master is both biblical and important today. Throughout the Gospels, He showed His mastery. Consider His healings. Sometimes, He would lay His hands on people to heal them. Sometimes, He would spit and make mud and rub it on their eyes. Sometimes, He would simply command the disease to be gone. But this case is different. He did not touch them. He did not speak the disease away. Instead, He simply told them to go and show themselves to the priest, and as they went, they became clean. Only the Master can do that.
Truth #2: Jesus restores to community those who have been alienated.
The Master showed mercy beyond physical healing. By taking away their disease, He took away what their disease had done to them socially and relationally. These men were living outside of the village, outside of the community. They kept their distance in obedience to the command (see Leviticus 13). They had been separated, alienated, and isolated. If they were in the same situation today, we might say they had been “canceled.” But Jesus reversed that. By healing them, He restored them back into the community. He brought them back home; to friends, to loved ones, to family, and to community. They would no longer suffer outside the village. They would no longer be alone.
They would no longer suffer outside the village. They would no longer be alone.
“Cancel Culture”
These two truths – that Jesus is the Master and that Jesus restores to community those who have been alienated – are particularly important today because of our current cultural situation. We live in a “cancel culture.” Somebody makes a mistake, perhaps a huge mistake, and they lose everything. They lose their place, they lose their job, they lose their reputation, and they lose their friends. It does not matter if this person is sorry. It does not matter if he or she repents. There is no mercy in a cancel culture.
But it does not only happen when someone makes a big mistake. There are a lot of people in our world who experience what we might call a “soft cancel.” This occurs when people are simply brushed aside, neglected, or dismissed. They are alone, not because of a coordinate social media attack, but by a slow disinterested fade.
- I am thinking about that girl in high school. She is a junior. She does not have a lot of friends. She used to, but that was back in middle school. Over the years her friends began to drift away. At first, she was left out of the group chat, then she was left out of the group jokes, and then left out of the group plans. One day she looks around the cafeteria at lunch and realizes she is eating by herself... again.
- I am thinking about the man who has just retired. He had a long and exhausting career and is relieved to have a break. But it does not take long before he misses being needed. He used to have a position, a place, a responsibility. He was often worn out at the end of the day, but at least he was not left out. Now, no one asks him to do anything. Now, nobody misses him.
- I am thinking about the black sheep in the family, the one who did not fit the mold. He did this his own way. Along the way, he burned some bridges. Slowly, he edged himself out of the family. Everyone says he is always welcome to return, but everyone also knows it is a lot easier if he just does not come around anymore.
A Canceled and Vindicated Master
Jesus can relate to those who have been cancelled. In the reading from Luke, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. In just a few weeks, He would enter Jerusalem to great fanfare on Palm Sunday. But as the week progressed, there would be a coordinated cancellation as He was rejected by His own people. We have a law, they said. He claimed to be the Son of God, and, therefore, He must die (see John 19:7). And it was not just the religious leaders. The disciples ran away. Even His Father abandoned Him: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Jesus was canceled, but He was still the Master. He ruled (and rules) over death and the grave. When He rose from the dead, He showed that He is Master over all things.
Jesus was canceled, but He was still the Master.
Jesus Continues to Restore the Alienated to Community
There may be people in your congregation who have been cancelled, either with an orchestrated effort, or, more likely, a soft fade. They need to hear loudly and clearly that the Master has not forgotten them. He has not abandoned them or cancelled them. He has forgiven them for everything, even the big mistakes. He sees them in their loneliness. He does not leave them on their own. He has placed them in a community, this community, which is not perfect, but it is filled with fellow believers who have been forgiven by the same Master.
Jesus Sends the Restored to Those who Are Still Alienated
The thing about Jesus’ mercy is it changes us. It changes us as a people. It turns us away from the “cancel culture” around us. Instead of pushing people away when they make big mistakes, Jesus leads us to forgive them. Instead of allowing people to slowly fade, Jesus leads us to take the first step toward bringing them back home.
- He leads us to that girl in the cafeteria who is sitting alone. He calls us to invite her to join our table. Or maybe, He simply leads us to sit down next to her.
- He leads us to reach out to that retired neighbor, the member of the congregation who may be feeling unneeded.
- He leads us to reach out to that member of the family who is disconnected, to take the first step. To write a note, to drop in, to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner a bit more honestly this year.
The good news this Sunday is we have a Master who, in His mercy, restores those who have been cancelled. And He sends those He has restored to those who are still being canceled. This is what it is like to live under the risen and merciful Master.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on Luke 17:11-19.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Luke 17:11-19.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
