A Samaritan’s Faith

[Melody]

Read: Luke 17: 11 - 19

Reflect: Only one of the ten lepers was saved through his faith.  It is not enough to recognise that Jesus is the answer to our needs.  It is not even enough to obey & do everything that He asks us - the other nine lepers had done that.  

For true faith there is a need to place all one’s trust and confidence in Jesus alone as the one who performs the works of God in our lives.  As we accept the good things that come our way, let us not fail to recognise and to thank God for healing and saving power, given to us through Jesus Christ.

Respond:
Q.1 What one urgent request you have asked Jesus?
   
Q.2 What step of faith does Jesus expect from you?
   
Q.3 How does being grateful affect your life?

© Rev. Fr. Marian Fernandes

[Melody]

Q.1 What one urgent request you have asked Jesus?

WOW    this is a really personal one!! Will answer nevertheless. I have asked the Lord to bless me with the life-partner of His choice

Q.2 What step of faith does Jesus expect from you?

I guess in this circumstance, and in everything really, that Jesus expects me to trust & believe that He will work at the right time. My 'physical' step of faith is to thank Him for providing me with the best at the right time.

Q.3 How does being grateful affect your life?

It affects my life IMMENSELY!! I read the book 'Power In Praise' by Merlin Carothers & it changed the way I think. I believe that being grateful to God - even for the seemingly 'negative' things that happen, releases God's power to work in that situation & confirms His authority over everything. To this end, I try to be as grateful as I can for everything that happens to me. Praise God!

Blessings,

Melody

[tklein1014]

What one urgent request you have asked Jesus?

I can't think of anything specific that you might call "urgent", but in general I always ask for guidance & that His will be done in whatever situation has me troubled.

What step of faith does Jesus expect from you?

Faith that He has heard my prayer & that He will answer it according to His will.

How does being grateful affect your life?

I agree with Melody that it unleashes God's power & blessings.  I think God likes attention & likes to be thanked for everything, even the little things.

Tina

[Melody]

I think God likes attention & likes to be thanked for everything, even the little things.

Maybe it's more like God - Who does infinitely more than we can ask for or imagine, every breath, every ray of sunshine, it's all His doing - like any Father loves His children & wants His children to at least know & acknowlegde some of the stuff He's doing, not because of the attention, but because of the love.

As you say, imho

Blessings,

Melody

[tklein1014]

I can understand what you're saying, but in my opinion, I think love and attention go hand-in-hand.  In my humble, mortal, human opinion, I think it's hard to have a loving relationship w/out both parties giving love & attention to each other.  If one party slacks off & doesn't agknowlege the other's love & attention, the latter may not feel appreciated so may not give as much as they otherwise would have, then the relationship may start to deteriorate.  I'm speaking in human terms, but I just don't see why God would add more blessings if we don't notice the ones we already have & pay attention to them, and be thankful for them.

Tina

[Seeker]

Q.1 What one urgent request you have asked Jesus?

Only that I continue to love and serve him in my life.  I pray that His will is done and not mine.

Q.2 What step of faith does Jesus expect from you?

I think it is to continue to trust Him in all things.  I haven't discerned a "step of faith" yet, but continue to pray that I am not blind to His will.

Q.3 How does being grateful affect your life?

Greatly.  It helps to put things in perspective.  When all the kids are whining, being thankful for them and reflecting on how great God is to give my wife and I such wonderful gifts, helps me to respond in love.  It also helps to really understand that all good comes from God and that I am deserving of none of it.

I have one more question regarding the reflection:

Only one of the ten lepers was saved through his faith. It is not enough to recognise that Jesus is the answer to our needs. It is not even enough to obey & do everything that He asks us - the other nine lepers had done that.

Weren't all the lepers cured?  But only one came to thank Jesus.  I am wondering whether the reflection is implying that only the one who came back to thank Jesus was cured.

[Melody]

I have one more question regarding the reflection:

Only one of the ten lepers was saved through his faith. It is not enough to recognise that Jesus is the answer to our needs. It is not even enough to obey & do everything that He asks us - the other nine lepers had done that.

Weren't all the lepers cured? But only one came to thank Jesus. I am wondering whether the reflection is implying that only the one who came back to thank Jesus was cured.

Interesting you noticed this. I did too - And it reminded me of a class I heard once on how Ten were Cured but only one was SAVED - which ought to remind us that healing and Salvation isn't the same thing. Don't know from which translation is it from though.

Blessings,

Melody