Samaritans

Samaritans pop up a number of times in the gospels. Unlike their appearance elsewhere, the gospels often portray them as the good guys, rather than the despised outsiders of Jewish tradition. Modern scholarship indicates they are a separated branch of Israelites. A bit like Protestant v Catholic separation, they drifted further apart over the centuries and the relationship became poisonous. Jesus, as a neighbouring Galilean, understood that culture and those prejudices.

Hatred and mistrust percolated for many years across the racial, ethnic and religious barriers between the Jews and their near neighbours, the Samaritans. As an earlier gospel mildly puts it, “Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” Jesus rises above such prejudices, highlighting good and faithful Samaritans.  We are all familiar with the “Good Samaritan” parable and the Samaritan woman at the well and here we have the Samaritan leper who alone of the ten who were cured returns to thank Jesus.

As with last week’s gospel, Jesus highlights the power of faith to cut across division and enmity. Ten lepers plead for Jesus help and are cured, but only this one faithfully and wholly gives himself to Jesus (Luke 17:11-19).

What is Jesus’ message for us here? Maybe it becomes clearer if we substitute “white bread Aussies” for observant Jews and then “refugees, migrants, Africans, Muslims, others” for Samaritans. Perhaps all are equally beloved. Perhaps too, others can be equally faithful.

Can we learn from those with whom we “don’t associate”? Asking Jesus to fix our immediate problems, is one thing, offering ourselves, as the Samaritan leper does, in recognition that Jesus himself is the true source of our wholeness, is another.

We too are called to sit at Jesus feet in wondrous gratitude, recognising that the bounty he offers me is offered to all his children, precious to him whatever their race, ethnicity or religion.

Deacon Mark Kelly