Ten lepers. Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.

Ten lepers call out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus responds by telling them to go and show themselves to a priest. They set out, in faith, and on the way they are cured. Only one of the ten, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks. The Jesus whom we encounter in the gospel of Luke constantly challenges existing boundaries. As disciples of Jesus we must never exclude today’s lepers and Samaritans. In the Christian community there must never be people who are considered beyond the pale. We are a field hospital for the casualties of life.