Oh Boy, My Favorite!

Luke 17:11-19

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

 

INTRO.: Read “Diary of a Dog” and “Diary of a Cat.” (see at end of sermon)

There you have it.  The diary of a dog; the diary of a cat.  One content, the other conniving.  One at peace, the other at war.  One grateful, the other grumpy.  Same house.  Same master.  Yet 2 entirely different attitudes.  May I ask you, my friends, which diary reads most like yours?  If your private thoughts were made public, how often would we hear the phrase, “Oh boy!  My favorite!”  “Oh boy, the alarm!  My favorite!”  “Oh boy, traffic jam!  My favorite!”  “Oh boy, vacuuming!  My favorite!”  “Oh boy, school!  My favorite!”

Now if that sounds a little far-fetched to you, just hear me out this evening as we take a good look at the Gospel lesson that is traditionally assigned to every Thanksgiving service, the familiar story of the 10 lepers.

Jesus encountered these men as he was making his way to Jerusalem.  In vv. 12-13 of our text we read: “They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’”  Picture the scene for a moment.  A huddle of half-draped faces and bent bodies.  It was probably difficult to discern where one body started and the other stopped, they leaned on each other so much.  But then again, who else could they lean on?  Society quarantined them.  Their illness disfigured them.  People avoided them.  Sores covered their bodies.  The disease ulcerated their vocal chords making their voices a raspy wheeze.  Eyebrows and eyelashes often fell out transforming their eyes into a vacant, hollow stare.  In some cases the leprosy would deaden nerve endings and the person would burn or cut himself and not even realize it.

No doubt about it, the physical effects of leprosy were tough, but they were mild compared to the social effects.  The Law of Moses required that lepers keep a safe distance from healthy people and that they shout to those approaching them, “Unclean, unclean!”  Their clothes were to be torn, their hair was to be uncombed, and their mouth was to be covered.  They were to live outside villages either by themselves or in communes with other lepers.  Had the disease been the result of one’s mistakes or poor judgments, it might have been more tolerable, more understandable.  But leprosy struck with a cruel randomness as fathers and farmers and mothers and maidens found themselves turned into beggars and outcasts.

But Jesus had compassion on them.  So when these men cried out to him and everyone else stepped back from them, he stepped toward them.  He instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests who were the designated official who could determine if a person had been healed of a particular disease like leprosy.  So they went.  They took a huge step of faith and on the way they were cleansed.  Bent backs straightened.  Open sores closed.  Severed fingers miraculously grew back.  And all of a sudden this mass of misery became a leaping, laughing, celebrating chorus of health.  Imagine that!  Just one prayer to one man and POW!  Instant and complete healing.  With one simple prayer they go from the garbage heap to the mansion.  They win a lottery that they didn’t even buy a ticket for.  They cash in gold from a mine they did not quarry.  Can you imagine how these lepers felt?  If you are a Christ believer and a Christ follower you can.  Because what Christ did for them physically, he’s done for you spiritually.  If you’ve ever said, “Have mercy on me,” he did.  If you’ve ever said, “Heal me of my sin sickness,” he did.  If you’ve ever said, “Make me clean and whole and pure,” he did.  Make no mistake about it, my friends.  Jesus still heals diseases, especially spiritual diseases.  And sadly, those who are healed still forget to do what 9 of those 10 lepers failed to do.  They forget to say thank you.  So what happened to those whom I’ve always labeled as the thankless 9?  We know, don’t we? We know because we’ve been there and done it ourselves.

Where are the other 9?  Well, some are too busy.  They intend to go back and say thank you to Jesus, but first they’ve got to go see their family.  And then their family wants to have a welcome home party.  And then they want to go see their friends and visit their old stomping grounds.  And one thing leads to another and by the time they get around to it, they’re thinking, “Surely Jesus knows how I feel.”  So they don’t go back to him.  They’re just too busy to be thankful.

Others are too cautious.  They don’t want to get too excited because who knows if they’ve been cured permanently.  The disease could come back as soon as or maybe even before they open their mouths to thank Jesus.  So they’re going to take a wait and see approach because what’s too good to be true usually is.

And then there are others who are too short-sighted and too self-centered to be thankful.  All they can think of is themselves and all that they’re going to be able to do now.  So off they go to catch up on all that they missed out on while living in that commune with all those other poor pitiful lepers.

So, too busy, too cautious, too short-sighted and too self-centered to be thankful.  Hmmm…Maybe this is hitting a bit too close to home because the real question that this story presents to us is this: Where would you place yourself in this story?  Do you think you’d find yourself more at home with the one man who returned to give thanks or the 9 who didn’t?  Hopefully it would be the former because the real message of this story that I want you to take home with you this evening is this: God notices the grateful heart.  Gestures of gratitude matter to him.  Why?  Does he have an ego problem?  No!  But you do and I do too.  And so does everyone else.  And gratitude is God’s way dealing with our ego problems.  It’s his way of lifting our eyes off of ourselves and placing them where they really belong, right on him who is the Source and Provider of every good gift and blessing in life.

So how do we join the camp of the one fellow who returned to give thanks?  Or to put it another way, how do we cultivate a grateful heart.  Two suggestions: first of all, major in the grace of God.  When you attend a university, you have to select a major.  And that major becomes your primary area of study, right?  Well, I would encourage you to let the grace of God become your primary area of study in this classroom that we call life.  Spend much time beneath the cross of Jesus.  Focus upon all that he did for you there and all that he made possible for you.  Read and re-read the curriculum of forgiveness and salvation that God lays out for us in his Holy Word.

Sounds like a great way to counteract a thankless heart, doesn’t it?  But unfortunately, we’re often like the brother of a professional golfer named Scott Simpson.  That brother was serving as Scott’s caddy when Scott was playing in the Masters Golf Tournament one year in Augusta, Georgia.  And prior to that tournament Scott was trying to explain to his brother how immaculate and beautiful that golf course is.  He even said, “You’ll be there all week and you won’t see one single weed on that course.”  It was just an expression and Scott forgot that he even said it.  But his brother didn’t.  On the final day of the tournament they were walking to the next tee box when all of a sudden the brother shouted to Scott, “I found one!  I found one!”  Well, Scott had no idea what he was talking about, so he walked over to his brother and found him pointing at a weed.  Apparently all week long his brother had been on a weed hunt!  One has to wonder how many flowers did he miss in the process?  How much greenery and scenery did he ignore because he was looking for a weed?  And how often don’t we make the same mistake?

Some of us are weed experts.  We catalog them.  We name them.  We tell our friends all about them.  We post them on Facebook.  Here we are, walking around in the gallery of God’s grace, living in the sweet fragrance of his mercy and love, but we still find a weed to complain about.  If that describes you, I have one suggestion for you.  Stop that!  No more weed hunts.  Instead, major in the grace of God.  Let that be your focus.  Let that be where you set your mind.

And while you’re doing that, let me give you one more suggestion on how to have a grateful heart: Measure the gifts of God.  In other words, do what we sang in the hymn before the sermon and count his many blessings, name them one by one.  Catalog his kindnesses.  Tally up his mercies.  This may not be as easy as you think, for the psalmist tells us that God’s mercies are new to us every morning.  But try it anyway.  And you will discover that if you are thoughtful, you will be thankful.  Or to put it another way, you will find that gratitude is always an option.

Learn a lesson from a little girl named Sydney Canal.  One day her brand new bicycle was stolen at school.  When she called her father and told him the news, he expected her to be terribly upset, maybe even crying uncontrollably.  But instead he sensed a certain degree of delight in her voice as she said something that I’m sure he’ll never forget.  She said, “Daddy, out of all the bikes they could have stolen, they took mine!”  See what I mean?  Gratitude is always an option.

It was for Matthew Henry, the famous Bible scholar, who was robbed by thieves one day.  Later on that day he wrote these words in his diary: “Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, my all was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”

Oh, that we would have and exude that kind of attitude of gratitude, my friends.  For if we did, who knows?  We might be heard saying things like, “Oh boy, tax day!  My favorite!”  “Oh boy, year-end evaluation!  My favorite!”  “Oh boy, final exams!  My favorite!”  You say, “Pastor, that’ll never happen.”  Maybe it won’t, but then again maybe it will, especially if you spend each day majoring in the grace of God and measuring the gifts of God.  Amen.

Diary of a Dog – Diary of a Cat

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG’S DIARY

Day number 180
8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm – OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day number 181
8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm – OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm – OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM – OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!

Day number 182
8:00 am – OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am – OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am – OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT’S DIARY

DAY 752 – My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 761 – Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair … must try this on their bed.

DAY 765 – Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was…Hmmm. Not working according to plan.

DAY 768 – I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called “shampoo.” What sick minds could invent such a liquid? My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 – There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call “beer”. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of “allergies.” Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774 – I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time…

OFFERING PRAYER: Father, we are humbled by your greatness, awe-struck by your goodness, and amazed by your generosity.  We are grateful for the showers of blessings you have poured into our lives and now return some of those gifts to you as an expression of our gratitude.  Take them, Lord, and use them in mighty ways to reach the lost, to lift up the downtrodden, to nurture the faithful, and to reclaim the inactive.  For we ask it in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE 2018

Our gracious and generous God, we recognize you as the source and provider of every blessing that we have in life.  Though we do not in the least bit deserve such lovingkindness from you, you never seem content till you give us the best of what you have to offer.  And so this evening we thank you for our physical and material blessings, including our food, clothing, shelter, jobs, family, health, schools, and especially for the bountiful, bin-busting harvest you granted our farmers this year.  We thank you for our national blessings – the freedoms we enjoy, the democratic process which allows us to elect representatives to govern us, our public officials who so willingly serve in their respective positions, the peace that our American soil has enjoyed for so many years.  We thank you for our spiritual blessings – for this house of worship, for our church family, for your Word and Sacraments, for the forgiveness and life and salvation that Jesus secured for us on the cross.  Father, we are truly rich beyond comprehension.  And so we pray that you will help us to remember that, to never take your blessings for granted, but to instead be thankful in all circumstances, including times of prosperity, times of adversity, and times of uncertainty, knowing and trusting that your faithfulness and love will never fail us.  LORD, IN YOUR MERCY…

And Lord, there are so many on our prayer list right now who may be having trouble feeling thankful because of problems they are experiencing.  May it please you to tenderly meet every need that is represented here.  Provide comfort, peace, and strength to those who suffer and use their times of adversity to drive them to your waiting arms.

And Father, there are many who are not able to be with their families this Thanksgiving holiday because they are engaged in the service and protection of our nation.  May they still find good cause to be thankful in the midst of their difficulties and may they find peace in knowing that their efforts are greatly appreciated by their fellow countrymen.  In time, bring them all safely back to their homeland and grant them a joyous reunion with those who so dearly miss them.

And Lord, as we come to your Holy Supper this evening, pour into our hearts the forgiveness, peace, and strength that this sacred meal brings with it.  Let the presence of Christ drive from us any worries we might have and assure us in a very personal way that we belong to you and you belong to us.  We ask these and all things in the name of our precious Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.