Rev. Dr. Bary R. Fleet - Pastor
October 14, 2007 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 
2nd Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19

How Do We Say “Thanks”?

One day the boss called one of his employees into his office.

“Rob,” he said, “you’ve been with the company for a year now. You started off in the mailroom, one week later you were promoted to a sales position, one month after that you were promoted to district manager of the sales department, and just four short months later, you were promoted to vice-chairman. Now it’s time for me to retire, and I want you to take over the company. What do you have to say to that?”

“Thanks,” said the employee.

“Thanks?” the boss replied. “Thanks?! Is that all you can say?”

“Okay, okay,” the employee said. “Thanks, Dad.”

Sometimes our thanks are colored by a sense of entitlement.  We don’t bother to express it because we have a sense that somehow in the great cosmic scheme of things, we deserve whatever it is that we have received.

Admittedly, I’m not the greatest tipper … I wonder if part of the reason for that is that I never worked as a waiter … or had any of our children work as waiters.  I know from listening to friends who did have that experience, they are much more sensitive about their “tipping.”  Not only are they more generous, they also think about the change … and how to tip so that the waiter doesn’t get stuck with a bunch of change.

We all are familiar with today’s story – the ten lepers, all of whom were healed, but only one of whom returned to say “Thanks!”  Were the other nine not grateful?  I suspect that is too harsh a judgment to pass.  Did they not express their gratitude because they somehow had a sense of entitlement?  I suspect that also might be too harsh.

I wonder if it just never crossed their minds.  They each went their way … and I’m sure they were enjoying the freedom of their new lives.  No longer were they persona non grata.  They were allowed to participate in society again.  They all went to show themselves to the priest, as Jesus had told.  They weren’t bad people … they were just like most of us.

So, what made the “one” come back and prostrate himself before Jesus?  He is the one who “got it.” 

Let’s back up a minute.  Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him.  Keeping their distance – as the law required – they called out to him asking Jesus to have mercy on them.  Note:  they didn’t ask for healing, per se.  They just asked to receive mercy.

What happened next was that Jesus SAW them.

On your way to church this morning, what did you see?  Did you see the leaves?  How about the sky?  When you walked into the sanctuary, did you see the legacy of those who have gone before us?  Did you see the burdens that some of us are carrying?  How about the blessings that are ours … like being able to drive … to SEE … to hear … to have breakfast before leaving the house … and to know that lunch is waiting, as is supper … and we can get it in a restaurant, if we want.

Did we see that we are surrounded by others who are sharing our life’s journey?  Who care about us … who would do almost anything for us, if they knew what it was that we truly needed?

On a deeper level, did we see God anywhere this morning?  … or yesterday?  Have we heard God – in the scripture, in the hymns, in the music? 

What made the one leper come back, I suspect, is that he got it.  He saw that it was God who made him well.  It was God who blessed him.  He was overwhelmed by a sense of awe that – of all people – he was made well.  Maybe because he had been there, he saw all those who weren’t healed, and he was overwhelmed at his own good fortune – that he happened to be in the right place at the right time … and in ways that even he didn’t understand, knew he was blessed by God.  He just couldn’t go on, until he had stopped and said, “Thanks!”

So, the question of the sermon hangs:  “How do we say ‘Thanks!’ … or maybe more fundamentally – do we SEE how blessed we are … and do we know from whom all blessings flow?

SERMON IN A SACK:  Lotion.  Talk about how it makes our skin feel better.  Ask about times when they were itchy.  What that felt like.  Explain leprosy, about the sores, and about how Jesus made their skin feel better … and how important it is for us to always say Thank You to God for everything that God does for us.