Next, Luke tells us that Jesus is passing through an area that borders on Galilee, his home area, and Samaria. There was a great hatred between the peoples of the two areas. This sets the stage for one of the punch lines or twists in the story later on.

Another bit of information that may help us understand the story better is that lepers could not live with or near those who did not have leprosy. When coming into an area populated, the lepers had to cover themselves and shout "Unclean! Unclean!" as they approached. This must have been their behavior as they approached Jesus to ask for healing. Right here we meet the first twist in the story. Jesus does not heal them immediately. Instead he sends them to the power source that enforces their estrangement from society. He sends them to the priests who focus so intently on sacred law; he sends them to those whose task it is to keep people, including these lepers, in their proper role and place.

I do not remember how many times I read this to make sure I read it correctly. It is as if Jesus is saying that healing can begin to happen when we take our very selves, whatever shape we are in, to those who most need to understand our plight, let them see us and get to know us up close and personal. Of course, there is no guarantee that those who do take the journey will be heard or even allowed into the presence of those they seek. But the intent is there. Along the way, the lepers are healed. If the priests knew these people, it must have been quite a shock to seem them healed. Perhaps it was enough of a shock to get their attention. Maybe they listened to their story. We will never know.

I have noticed with great interest, as perhaps you have, that in recent weeks there has been an abundance of articles in the newspaper, as well as on the radio and the television about both the religion of and people of Islam. All of a sudden, we want to know more. We want to hear both facts and personal stories. Perhaps we want to stop yelling that somebody or anybody is unclean, and seek some kind of understanding and even just a little bit of healing. Certainly the attention of the world has been refocused.

The second twist in Luke’s story is that only one of those who were healed returned to thank Jesus and to celebrate the healing. To add insult to injury, at least to Luke’s audience, this grateful one was a Samaritan. Only one, the hated one, stood and said, as did the Psalmist: "Come and see what God has done!" Only one took a moment out of life to recognize and celebrate God’s good gift of healing. Only one!

About the time we are ready to move back into our building, we will hear this phrase many times. "Come and See What God Has Done", from this very Psalm, will be our Stewardship theme in 2000. That seems to be a perfect theme for us for this year. It is also a wonderful reminder that recognizing and celebrating all that God has done and is doing in our lives is the beginning of thanksgiving and stewardship. In our gratitude, we become like the grateful Samaritan, we turn around and find great joy in giving back.

Last summer, in what might have been greater acts of stewardship and faith than we knew, we raised funds and sent Jennie Breads and Jamie Platky off to Durban, South Africa as a part of the UCC Youth Delegation to the United Nations World Conference Against Racism. They went, recognizing that throughout the world many are labeled as lepers and are treated accordingly, but they were shocked by some of the stories they heard. They went, wanting to listen and learn, and hoping that somehow through this experience they might help shape a world that is more open and accepting of race and clan. They went, taking their youthful faith and the encouragement of us, their community of faith, with them. Today, with Jamie and Jennie, we proclaim; "Come and See What God Has Done!"