Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Today’s text

Luke 17:11-19

Now it happened that on the way to Jerusalem Jesus was traveling in the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten men suffering from a virulent skin disease came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, “Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.” When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself prostrate at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This led Jesus to say, “Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.” And he said to the man, “Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Prayer

Is it praise that saves us from ourselves, Holy Darkness? Does praise push us to our knees and lift us to the heights of humanity? Is adoration the central mark of a faith that dwells in gratitude, knowing life and breath, freedom and joy are gifts flowing from the impenetrable depths of your goodness?

If so, let my morning praise rise to you that, I too, may be the human soul, the heart of flesh, you intend. Thank you for the gratitude of my unseeing eyes. I cannot penetrate your mystery. I understand nothing of what you must be. Yet at the break of day I stand before you wanting to be no nowhere else, knowing you are love, my silent lips giving praise for the wonder of that singular awareness.

Thank you, I say again. I have nothing else to bring.

Blessed Jesus, you are the face of the Impenetrable Darkness no eye can behold. In your joy in healing, in your hope that all will draw close to receive what you would give, I perceive the love no heart can contain. The beauty of your face casts me into the dirt and lifts me that truest humanity known only by hearts filled with gratitude. Thank you for making me a human … being.

Pr. David L. Miller