“And as they went, they were healed.” This marks the end of Luke’s narrative, but it feels like a new beginning. The Gospel is filled with healed individuals, celebrating Jesus’ message: God is here; He is with us.
Jesus sent them to see the priests. When they moved forward, the ten lepers began to heal on their journey. With each step they took, their hope transformed into something more substantial than their illness, opening new horizons and freeing them from a life of immobility.
Suddenly, the ten lepers were astonished: they had leprosy-free skin. In their amazement, nine continued on their path, but one returned, singing with gratitude.
“As they walked” captures a slow, determined journey; step by step, one foot after the other, little by little. Healing unfolds with the same patience as the road.
Ten were the lepers; once healed, only the Samaritan returned. Jesus says, ‘Your faith has saved you!’ The other nine also had faith in Jesus’ words; they set out on the road as an act of trust. Where is the difference?
The leper of Samaria doesn’t seek priests, recognizing that salvation comes from the personal encounter with Jesus, not rules. He is saved by returning to the source and immersing himself in it like a lake.
It’s not the church building that saves you, or the priests that come and go, but the touch of our loving Savior Jesus. Come to him and let the Eucharist reach and touch you. You are Loved.