It was a very radical idea for Jesus Christ to have contact with them, because the people of that day and time would not even approach someone with leprosy for fear of contamination. How does the Webster's dictionary define leprosy? There are two definitions given in the dictionary that I used: (The first definition is): A chronic disease characterized by the formation of nodules that enlarge and the spread, accompanied by loss of sensation, with eventual paralysis and wasting of muscle. And the (second definition is): A morally or spiritually harmful influence.

Even in light of the physical seriousness of the disease of leprosy, I believe that Jesus Christ was addressing both definitions of leprosy as He cleansed the ten lepers. Jesus had no problem having contact with these unfortunate individuals, because as God, He has power over all things, which includes every disease known to mankind.

What a relief it must have been for anyone suffering from this disease to be healed and cleansed from it. It would mean that they could be once again integrated into society instead of being sequestered away in a leper colony. It set them free from the chains of oppression that this disease had bound them with. Obviously, if someone was able to just pronounce you cleansed, and your leprosy disappeared right before your very eyes, this person must be God, because only God could possess such power.

In the Gospel lesson in Luke 17, ten lepers sought out Jesus Christ to be healed; when Jesus passed by the ten lepers, they stood far away and shouted to Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus healed all ten of them, and then only one of them approached Jesus and offered thanks for the wonderful miracle that he had received. Jesus marveled at the fact that ten were cleansed, but only one offered thanks to Him for being healed.

The second definition of leprosy, "a moral or spiritually harmful influence", could pertain to people that are so immersed in self-centered, sinful and ungrateful behavior that there is no hope for redemption. These people have separated themselves from God into "spiritual leper colonies". While the nine lepers that were cleansed of their leprosy and did not return to give thanks to God, were healed and could return to society, they again became members of a spiritual leper colony by isolating themselves from God with their ungrateful attitude.

All physical diseases, including leprosy, are not voluntary. Diseases are just unfortunate things that happen to human beings. We don't ask for them, they just happen! Spiritual diseases on the other hand are strictly voluntary. We bring them upon ourselves with our actions. What Jesus was marveling at after He cleansed the ten lepers was the self-inflicted spiritual disease that the nine ungrateful recipients of His mercy were infected with.

God had touched all ten of these people. God had performed a wondrous miracle for them, something that no physician of the time could have possibly accomplished, yet, nine of the ten lepers hearts were unmoved by this miracle! Only one of them saw the miracle for what it was, and realized that it was Jesus Christ, God on earth, that had done this miracle for him.

I have always said that you can witness the truth of Jesus Christ to ten people, and only one of them will really hear it and accept it joyfully. This Scripture lesson painfully reminds us of the truth of that statement, as well as the fact that the odds have not increased since Jesus walked on the earth! Basically, the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, and Ministry, and His ultimate Sacrifice for us has cleansed us from our spiritual leprosy, and freed us from our "spiritual leper colonies". Still about only one in ten fully embrace Him and offer Him a sacrifice of praise and gratitude for the miracle of eternal life that He has so graciously given to us.

The Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy is one of the best ways that we can make ourselves like the one in ten that returned to give thanks to God for His mercy. The Divine Liturgy is a sacrifice of praise, and contained within it is a healing miracle, the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our God. When we receive the Holy Communion, we are healed of our "spiritual leprosy", we are no longer sequestered away in a "spiritual leper colony", but we are renewed in the presence of God, and the Church Militant on earth, and share in fellowship with the brotherhood of the Church Triumphant in Heaven.

We, as Eastern Orthodox Christians must be like the one in ten that returned to offer thanks to God. Every Sunday in the Divine Liturgy, we return to Jesus Christ to offer praise and thanksgiving to our Savior. In return, we are renewed in spirit, embraced by the love of God, and fortified with strength to face a world where only about one in ten approach God with a thankful heart worthy of such a wonderful miracle given to us by Jesus Christ. We must not tire in our efforts to teach others about Jesus Christ, it is our Christian duty to stand up for Christ whenever possible. It is also our duty to offer the truth when we are given the opportunity. We may be left marveling, as Jesus Christ was, at the number of people that will either reject the truth, or hear it and not act upon it.

You will notice that while Jesus Christ asked: "where are the other nine that were cleansed?" He did not force them to have the correct attitude, even though it is in the realm of His powers to do so. Jesus respected their freedom of choice just as He respects our freedom of choice. Gratitude costs us nothing, yet it gives us, and those around us, so many benefits. The erasing of all of our sins is no less a miracle than the immediate cleansing of a leper's disease. Let us all realize this, let us all be that one in ten that returns to the feet of Jesus Christ to say "Thank you, Holy Savior for cleansing me from my sins!"

In the Gospel according to St. Luke, Chapter 17, we read about ten lepers that were cleansed by Jesus Christ. After they were cleansed, only one of them returned to give thanks to God. Almost no one in the 20^th century knows anyone with leprosy. In the day and time when St. Luke wrote this Gospel account, leprosy was very well known. It was feared to the point that anyone unfortunate enough to be infected with this disease was secluded in leprosy colonies. They were separated totally from others, and looked upon as unclean.

It was a very radical idea for Jesus Christ to have contact with them, because the people of that day and time would not even approach someone with leprosy for fear of contamination. How does the Webster's dictionary define leprosy? There are two definitions given in the dictionary that I used: (The first definition is): A chronic disease characterized by the formation of nodules that enlarge and the spread, accompanied by loss of sensation, with eventual paralysis and wasting of muscle. And the (second definition is): A morally or spiritually harmful influence.

Even in light of the physical seriousness of the disease of leprosy, I believe that Jesus Christ was addressing both definitions of leprosy as He cleansed the ten lepers. Jesus had no problem having contact with these unfortunate individuals, because as God, He has power over all things, which includes every disease known to mankind.

What a relief it must have been for anyone suffering from this disease to be healed and cleansed from it. It would mean that they could be once again integrated into society instead of being sequestered away in a leper colony. It set them free from the chains of oppression that this disease had bound them with. Obviously, if someone was able to just pronounce you cleansed, and your leprosy disappeared right before your very eyes, this person must be God, because only God could possess such power.

In the Gospel lesson in Luke 17, ten lepers sought out Jesus Christ to be healed; when Jesus passed by the ten lepers, they stood far away and shouted to Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus healed all ten of them, and then only one of them approached Jesus and offered thanks for the wonderful miracle that he had received. Jesus marveled at the fact that ten were cleansed, but only one offered thanks to Him for being healed.

The second definition of leprosy, "a moral or spiritually harmful influence", could pertain to people that are so immersed in self-centered, sinful and ungrateful behavior that there is no hope for redemption. These people have separated themselves from God into "spiritual leper colonies". While the nine lepers that were cleansed of their leprosy and did not return to give thanks to God, were healed and could return to society, they again became members of a spiritual leper colony by isolating themselves from God with their ungrateful attitude.

All physical diseases, including leprosy, are not voluntary. Diseases are just unfortunate things that happen to human beings. We don't ask for them, they just happen! Spiritual diseases on the other hand are strictly voluntary. We bring them upon ourselves with our actions. What Jesus was marveling at after He cleansed the ten lepers was the self-inflicted spiritual disease that the nine ungrateful recipients of His mercy were infected with.

God had touched all ten of these people. God had performed a wondrous miracle for them, something that no physician of the time could have possibly accomplished, yet, nine of the ten lepers hearts were unmoved by this miracle! Only one of them saw the miracle for what it was, and realized that it was Jesus Christ, God on earth, that had done this miracle for him.

I have always said that you can witness the truth of Jesus Christ to ten people, and only one of them will really hear it and accept it joyfully. This Scripture lesson painfully reminds us of the truth of that statement, as well as the fact that the odds have not increased since Jesus walked on the earth! Basically, the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, and Ministry, and His ultimate Sacrifice for us has cleansed us from our spiritual leprosy, and freed us from our "spiritual leper colonies". Still about only one in ten fully embrace Him and offer Him a sacrifice of praise and gratitude for the miracle of eternal life that He has so graciously given to us.

The Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy is one of the best ways that we can make ourselves like the one in ten that returned to give thanks to God for His mercy. The Divine Liturgy is a sacrifice of praise, and contained within it is a healing miracle, the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our God. When we receive the Holy Communion, we are healed of our "spiritual leprosy", we are no longer sequestered away in a "spiritual leper colony", but we are renewed in the presence of God, and the Church Militant on earth, and share in fellowship with the brotherhood of the Church Triumphant in Heaven.

We, as Eastern Orthodox Christians must be like the one in ten that returned to offer thanks to God. Every Sunday in the Divine Liturgy, we return to Jesus Christ to offer praise and thanksgiving to our Savior. In return, we are renewed in spirit, embraced by the love of God, and fortified with strength to face a world where only about one in ten approach God with a thankful heart worthy of such a wonderful miracle given to us by Jesus Christ. We must not tire in our efforts to teach others about Jesus Christ, it is our Christian duty to stand up for Christ whenever possible. It is also our duty to offer the truth when we are given the opportunity. We may be left marveling, as Jesus Christ was, at the number of people that will either reject the truth, or hear it and not act upon it.

You will notice that while Jesus Christ asked: "where are the other nine that were cleansed?" He did not force them to have the correct attitude, even though it is in the realm of His powers to do so. Jesus respected their freedom of choice just as He respects our freedom of choice. Gratitude costs us nothing, yet it gives us, and those around us, so many benefits. The erasing of all of our sins is no less a miracle than the immediate cleansing of a leper's disease. Let us all realize this, let us all be that one in ten that returns to the feet of Jesus Christ to say "Thank you, Holy Savior for cleansing me from my sins!"

In the Gospel according to St. Luke, Chapter 17, we read about ten lepers that were cleansed by Jesus Christ. After they were cleansed, only one of them returned to give thanks to God. Almost no one in the 20^th century knows anyone with leprosy. In the day and time when St. Luke wrote this Gospel account, leprosy was very well known. It was feared to the point that anyone unfortunate enough to be infected with this disease was secluded in leprosy colonies. They were separated totally from others, and looked upon as unclean.

It was a very radical idea for Jesus Christ to have contact with them, because the people of that day and time would not even approach someone with leprosy for fear of contamination. How does the Webster's dictionary define leprosy? There are two definitions given in the dictionary that I used: (The first definition is): A chronic disease characterized by the formation of nodules that enlarge and the spread, accompanied by loss of sensation, with eventual paralysis and wasting of muscle. And the (second definition is): A morally or spiritually harmful influence.

Even in light of the physical seriousness of the disease of leprosy, I believe that Jesus Christ was addressing both definitions of leprosy as He cleansed the ten lepers. Jesus had no problem having contact with these unfortunate individuals, because as God, He has power over all things, which includes every disease known to mankind.

What a relief it must have been for anyone suffering from this disease to be healed and cleansed from it. It would mean that they could be once again integrated into society instead of being sequestered away in a leper colony. It set them free from the chains of oppression that this disease had bound them with. Obviously, if someone was able to just pronounce you cleansed, and your leprosy disappeared right before your very eyes, this person must be God, because only God could possess such power.

In the Gospel lesson in Luke 17, ten lepers sought out Jesus Christ to be healed; when Jesus passed by the ten lepers, they stood far away and shouted to Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus healed all ten of them, and then only one of them approached Jesus and offered thanks for the wonderful miracle that he had received. Jesus marveled at the fact that ten were cleansed, but only one offered thanks to Him for being healed.

The second definition of leprosy, "a moral or spiritually harmful influence", could pertain to people that are so immersed in self-centered, sinful and ungrateful behavior that there is no hope for redemption. These people have separated themselves from God into "spiritual leper colonies". While the nine lepers that were cleansed of their leprosy and did not return to give thanks to God, were healed and could return to society, they again became members of a spiritual leper colony by isolating themselves from God with their ungrateful attitude.

All physical diseases, including leprosy, are not voluntary. Diseases are just unfortunate things that happen to human beings. We don't ask for them, they just happen! Spiritual diseases on the other hand are strictly voluntary. We bring them upon ourselves with our actions. What Jesus was marveling at after He cleansed the ten lepers was the self-inflicted spiritual disease that the nine ungrateful recipients of His mercy were infected with.

God had touched all ten of these people. God had performed a wondrous miracle for them, something that no physician of the time could have possibly accomplished, yet, nine of the ten lepers hearts were unmoved by this miracle! Only one of them saw the miracle for what it was, and realized that it was Jesus Christ, God on earth, that had done this miracle for him.

I have always said that you can witness the truth of Jesus Christ to ten people, and only one of them will really hear it and accept it joyfully. This Scripture lesson painfully reminds us of the truth of that statement, as well as the fact that the odds have not increased since Jesus walked on the earth! Basically, the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, and Ministry, and His ultimate Sacrifice for us has cleansed us from our spiritual leprosy, and freed us from our "spiritual leper colonies". Still about only one in ten fully embrace Him and offer Him a sacrifice of praise and gratitude for the miracle of eternal life that He has so graciously given to us.

The Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy is one of the best ways that we can make ourselves like the one in ten that returned to give thanks to God for His mercy. The Divine Liturgy is a sacrifice of praise, and contained within it is a healing miracle, the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our God. When we receive the Holy Communion, we are healed of our "spiritual leprosy", we are no longer sequestered away in a "spiritual leper colony", but we are renewed in the presence of God, and the Church Militant on earth, and share in fellowship with the brotherhood of the Church Triumphant in Heaven.

We, as Eastern Orthodox Christians must be like the one in ten that returned to offer thanks to God. Every Sunday in the Divine Liturgy, we return to Jesus Christ to offer praise and thanksgiving to our Savior. In return, we are renewed in spirit, embraced by the love of God, and fortified with strength to face a world where only about one in ten approach God with a thankful heart worthy of such a wonderful miracle given to us by Jesus Christ. We must not tire in our efforts to teach others about Jesus Christ, it is our Christian duty to stand up for Christ whenever possible. It is also our duty to offer the truth when we are given the opportunity. We may be left marveling, as Jesus Christ was, at the number of people that will either reject the truth, or hear it and not act upon it.

You will notice that while Jesus Christ asked: "where are the other nine that were cleansed?" He did not force them to have the correct attitude, even though it is in the realm of His powers to do so. Jesus respected their freedom of choice just as He respects our freedom of choice. Gratitude costs us nothing, yet it gives us, and those around us, so many benefits. The erasing of all of our sins is no less a miracle than the immediate cleansing of a leper's disease. Let us all realize this, let us all be that one in ten that returns to the feet of Jesus Christ to say "Thank you, Holy Savior for cleansing me from my sins!"