Experiencing God - Disposition of the Heart 91

"Now as they were going away, the ten were cleansed.  Finding himself cured, one turned back praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him."
Gospel of Luke

In the above Gospel, Luke gives an account of the cure of the ten lepers, of whom only one thanked Jesus. This Gospel is much more than a story about ten people who were healed of their physical ailment.  It's about the disposition of the heart of those who were cured. 

Back in my late twenties when I had my own deep encounter with Christ, there were two things that I remember most about the experience.  The first was the sense of amazement that such a think would happen to me in the first place.  It was quite unexpected, and it therefore struck me with a sense of awe.  The second thing I remember and it continues to be with me today is the sense of gratitude to Christ that it would happen at all.  It is this immense gratitude that moves us into a new relationship with Christ.  It is this immense gratitude that causes a shift in our priorities.  Our focus and attention is no longer on ourselves but has shifted to Christ.

If you look at stories of miracles and conversion in the New Testament, you will find that these qualities of amazement and gratitude are the common characteristics.  We read that the man who was healed of his physical handicap at the temple gate by Peter and John went away with them walking, jumping and praising God.  We read that the man that Jesus healed at the pool of water called Bathsadia immediately rose up, took his mat, rolled it up, and went on his way in amazement, praising God.  The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were amazed when they finally recognized the person who was travelling with them on the road. In their excitement, they returned all the way back to Jerusalem to tell their companions. 

This amazement and gratitude is what makes us effective witnesses to Christ.  It reveals our true change of heart.  Gratitude or gratefulness expresses a thankful disposition, is related to the receiving of grace, and causes us to respond in acts of thanksgiving.

In the above Gospel account, ten lepers were healed of their physical ailments, but only one returned in amazement and gratitude praising God.  To this one, Jesus says: "Go your way, your faith has saved you."  What happened to the other nine?  We do not know, but this one, a Samaritan, experienced a true conversion of heart.

Recently, I've attended a three day study session put on my our church to explore the building blocks of the New Evangelization.  Two of those building blocks have to do with (1) that personal encounter with Christ that will leave us with that sense of amazement and gratitude for Him and His message, and (2) becoming witnesses to that encounter with others.  The stress has been and will continue to be, not so much on doing church, but on being church for one another.  This requires a change of heart, a new ardour, new methods and expression.  The gospel about the healing of the lepers gives expression to the change of heart that is necessary if we are to continue as church.

Ten were healed, but nine walked off, never to be heard from again.  Only one returned with a changed heart and a changed life.  He gave witness to this change by his personal witness that flowed from the actions of amazement and gratitude of one converted to Christ.