Thanksgiving Sermon to the Homeless

Ten Healed of Leprosy only One Thanks the Lord

Luke 17: 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

I. Have Pity on Us…these were ten lepers who were outcast to society. They were not allowed to mingle or walk with the rest of the people because of their disease. It states they stood at a distance indicating their outcast position in society. Often we feel as lepers to a community or society socially unaccepted. But they found one that would listen to them. It was Jesus. Oh the truth in this is no matter how society views you or whatever you sickness or what makes you different God has time and compassion to talk to you. Jesus was sensitive to their voice realizing who they were. They cried out Jesus have Pity on us….this was something that no one else in society had ever offered them…unconditional love and mercy. They felt the pain of rejection and even the sentence of death upon them. The religious people didn’t want them, children were afraid of them, they were forbidden in mainstream society much like some of us today. They were told where to walk, sit and sleep. They experienced the feelings of rejection and having no pride in life. But Jesus tells them to do something that was actually not normal for them to do….

II. Go show yourselves to the Priest. I am sure they had even tried to do this before and knew they would be turned away. I am sure they had reached out to the community leaders before and were rejected. But they didn’t realize that Jesus or the Christ was going to do something greater than they ever expected….that was to heal them. Sensing that Jesus cared they did as he said and were cleansed or made clean of this vicious disease. They were obedient to our Lord is the substance of truth here. They went to where they felt rejected and were healed. How wonderful this is…for now they are accepted in society they are no longer seen as the outcast or forbidden to touch. Jesus had truly worked a miracle that changed their life, socially- he even removed the sentence of death that was upon them. How glorious and reflective of what he does for all of us today who cry out and say Master, have pity on us. The glorious Lord saves us and forgives us….but here is the irony and relation of this text to Thanksgiving.

III. One of them…it states that one of them only one came back and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Oh how sad….as it is about to be thanksgiving we are to give thanks, this one man reflects the mood of gratitude in our society and our community that basically only one in ten was grateful for the Lords help and mercy. The Lord does the work but no one thanks him. We must adopt a new attitude this thanksgiving and that is to thank the Lord for what he has done for us. Our society no longer recognizes the Goodness of God…what if only one out of ten today continues to be thankful to God? Recognize his goodness and mercy. It may be the help received through the Christian charity but we are to be thankful. IT may be that our Lord has erased and forgiven our sins and manipulation in our society. We are to be thankful. It may be that God has made us clean and overcome our addictions but we are to be thankful. It may be that society has given us a second chance in our community and we are to be thankful. To often we are to thankful for the services of the Lord and we are like the other 9 lepers who did not return to the Lord to thank him. Jesus asked him was not all ten cleansed or changed? where are the other nine? Jesus didn’t take away their miracle or his love and charity to them but simply questioned their hearts and motivation. Where are the others? Were they not grateful for what I did? This Thanksgiving let us not be as the ones that don’t thank the Lord for what he has done but let us thank the Lord for his assistance and Love. No matter how we perceive it we are at his Mercy and need his Kindness to help us. Are we grateful to the Lord this Thanksgiving? You may be in the Mission but it is the Lord who provides for you? You may be here against your will, but it is the Lord who provides for you- give your gratitude to the Lord for his Love and Works demonstrated to you this Thanksgiving,

IV. Your Faith has made you whole…in the thanksgiving of the one leper Jesus gives him the confirmation he needed to hear… he states to him your Faith has made you whole. Today it is still your Faith that makes you whole. Experiencing the compassion of Christ and Christianity. Embracing Gods love through Christ is an issue of Faith. It is your belief in Him that changes the outcome of your life. Jesus recognized the act of worship and gratitude in this person and the Lord confirmed the well being of the Leper. This year allow your Faith to make you whole. We are sick spiritually and socially we need help. Allow this year to be your year of gratitude and thankfulness. Let the power of the Lord cleanse you and make you whole. Be thankful to God. Trust God. Hope in God and you can see the Glory of God. Go in the way the Lord directs you and you will be cleansed. Be thankful and you will be confirmed show you appreciation to the kindness of God your true gratitude…And when the Lord does good for you remember to return to the Lord and be thankful for what he has done for you. Whether it was from Heaven or through Humans it is God who has done it for you. It may even be the Charity of a Mission in your community but be thankful this year for Gods Love and Blessings.

May a spirit of Thanksgiving and Gratitude be found in our Hearts this year.

Amen.