Faith, Gratitude, and Humility: A Lesson from Lucan Narrative of Jesus Healing Ten Lepers

The Lucan Gospel narrative of Jesus healing ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) appears to be straightforward in its teaching message: the importance of gratitude. In fact, expressing our gratitude for what God has done and His goodness is essential to our faith in Him (i.e. 1 Chronicles 16:8; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 107:1; 118:1;136:1-4, 26; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Jesus himself thanked the Father (Matthew 11:25//Luke 10:21; John 6:11; John 11:41; Matthew 26:26-27//Luke 22:17, 19). So, giving thanks, expressing our gratitude, to God is an integral part of our faith in Him.

According to this narrative, ten lepers pleaded Jesus to have mercy on them from the distance, as Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem. In response, Jesus simply commanded them to go and show themselves to the priests (Luke 17:14). It is noteworthy here that these ten lepers went to show themselves to the priests even though their leprosy was not healed yet. According to Leviticus 13:2-3; 14:2-32, they were supposed to go show themselves to the priests after being healed for verification and to be claimed “clean” in order to be reintegrated to the society. These lepers could have asked Jesus, “Pardon me, Lord, we are not healed yet. We still have leprosy. How can you dare to tell us to go to the priests now? We are already outcast because of our condition. We will be thrown away again!”. If they were fundamentalist to the Torah, they could have argued with Jesus. However, according to this Lucan narrative, none of these lepers even raised a question to what Jesus commanded, though it made no sense to the Torah, and simply went to show themselves to the priests while they still had leprosy.  It is important to note in Luke 17:15, they were healed on their way to see the priests. They were healed because they simply believed what Jesus said and did it.

To the nine, who were Jew, this was the end of the story. However, to one Samaritan person, it was not, because he was the only one to return to Jesus, glorifying God in loud voice, and thanked him by bending himself down at the feet Jesus (Luke 17:15-16).

Though all of these ten lepers believed in Jesus’ healing power, it must have had a far more stronger impact on the Samaritan leper than the nine Jewish ones. Perhaps, subconsciously, these nine Jewish lepers thought that they “deserve” to be healed by Jesus because they were Jew and so was Jesus. On the other hand, it was not that he doubted of Jesus’ healing power, but that the Samaritan leper could have wondered if Jesus, a Jew, would really extend his mercy to him, because his ethnicity was despised by the Jews.

A bit deeper lesson from this Lucan Gospel narrative on Jesus healing ten lepers – only the Samaritan leper returning to Jesus, glorifying God, and thanked him –(Luke 17:11-19) is not to assume we “deserve” God’s mercy, though it endures forever (i.e. Psalm 136) and can benefits regardless of our ethnicities as long as we are faithful ( i.e. Romans 4:11-13; Galatians 3:8). Such an assumption can make take God’s grace for granted and reduces sensitivity to gratitude. In fact, if our faith is strong, we never assume that we “deserve”, as such a strong faith keeps us humble and consider ourselves unworthy to receive God’s grace, including His mercy. Faith is not just about believing in what seems impossible but also to keep ourselves humble enough to regard ourselves unworthy and to prompt us to express our gratitude in our praises to glorify God, who is generous and merciful in dispensing His grace (Ephesians 2:1-7) to the worthy in His eyes.

After all, this is what it means to live a life of Christian faith: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus!” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  The Samaritan who returned to Jesus and thanked him was in joy to glorify God.

ある女子高生の悩み：どうして化学なんか勉強しなければいけないの？ある宗教教師の応答

私は、リストラ食らって以来、心理、宗教、教育の３分野におけるコンサルタントとして、食ってく為にいろんなことしてますが、その一つはカトリックの宗教教理や聖書を子供達に教えることです。でも、ただ宗教を教えるというのではなく、子供達からのいろいろな相談にも乗る羽目になります。臨床宗教の他、メンタルヘルスの臨床カウンセリング心理も私の専門なので別に構わないのですが。。。でも、通常のメンタルヘルスのカウンセリングでは傾聴することが８割で私自身しゃべるのが２割ぐらいなので、この場合は典型的なカウンセリングではありません。話をしているのが私ですから、やはり教えているようなものです。

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アメリカのカトリックの中高生達にカトリックの教理を教えてると、こうした思春期の子供達に接していると必ずありがちなように、彼らの人生相談のようなことまでしなければならないことがよくあります。授業が終わっても、マサ先生、あの～、なんて言われたら、やはり、はい、何やねん？なんて答えてしまいますから。

先日、私の担当である宗教教理のお話を終えてから、高校１年の女の子の相談に乗ってたら、彼女は普段ベビーシッターやてて、子供が好きなので将来は保育士になりたいのにどうして化学なんて勉強しないといけないんですか、って聞かれました。そんなこと、知らんわい！化学のセンセに聞かんかい！って言って、さっさとその場を去ってもよかったんですが。。。（そもそも、何でそんなこと私に聞かなあかんの？）

私はその子に、うん、何でやろね～？それ勉強せんと高校卒業でけえん。高校卒業でけえんかったら念願の保育士にもなれん、学校のセンセに聞いたら多分そう答えるやろね。

せやけど、風変わりな宗教教師である私は、好きであろうが嫌いであろうが、これも何かの縁というよりも、神からの導きやと思いますわ、って答え始める。

塩化水素が塩酸 (厳密には, 塩化水素の水溶液が、塩酸), しかし、硫化水素は硫酸ではない。でも、酸化水素は水や。水素原子２個に一つの酸素原子がくっつく、つまり、酸化すると水になる。せやけど、白衣着て、研究室で一日過ごしながら飯食うような生活でもせん限り、こんなこと知ってて何の役に立つんや？って言いたいんやろ？

彼女は、うん、と言わんばかりの顔つき。

蛇口ひねってちゃんと水が出てきて、その水を安心して飲める生活ができれば水素原子や酸素原子がどうのこうのいったことどうでもええやんか！せやろ？

せやけど、心理学の眼で化学というのを考えると結構おもしろいんやで！

というのは、周期表にあるそれぞれの元素をいろんな人にたとえてみる。人それぞれご先祖様がおってその人なりの家族歴代の歴史があるように、しかも、マタイの福音書の最初やルカの福音書の第３章にあるように、イエスにもちゃんとした先祖との繋がりがあるように、元素ひとつひとつにも原子構造のユニークさによる物理学的個性があり、宇宙創成といわれるビックバンにその歴史は遡ることができる。で、すべての元素のご先祖様は水素とヘリウムや。せやから水素が最初、ヘリウムは２番目なんや。ほら、前にも言ったと思うけど、創世記の第一章をビックバンの話と並行させてみるっこと、覚えてる？これらをごっちゃにすると頭こんがらかってしまうけど、並行させると、”な～るほど”って思うやろ？そして、宗教と科学は対立するものではなく、並行しながらとどのつまりは同じ一つの真理の理解を目指すんやで。そういうふうに考えると、化学は退屈な科目というよりも、なにか奥深いロマンがあり好奇心を掻きたてる面白い科目と化すやんか。

こうした考えでもって周期表に親しみ、周期表の元素の並び方から分る電子軌道の様子やその軌道上の電子と原子核内の陽子との電荷的バランスなどについて考えることから、化学反応の物理学的からくりである電子の共有云々といった大学レベルの化学へと楽しみながら学ぶことができるんで。しかも、化学の背後にあるこれらの原子物理学的、量子力学的なからくりはすべて創造主である神のメッセージが秘められてるんや。そう考えると化学だけけでなくそれとは切っても切れない縁にある物理学を学ぶ意義もカトリックの教えとの関わりの中でわかってくるので、何でこんな科目勉強せんとあかんのや！、なんていう気がしなくなる。文句ないやろ？

こうして、彼女の年ぐらいのときは医学部目指して化学を含む理系科目を猛勉強していたかつての少年が今では宗教教師として、自分が教えるカトリックの教理のクラスにいる化学に悩む女子高生と話をしているのでありました。

彼女、最初はわかったような、わかっていないような顔してましたが、一言、マサ先生、元素を人と考えてみると面白いですね。じゃ、周期表って皆のグループ写真みたいなもんですか？

で、私は、せや、せや！ええことに気～付くやんか！ほな　あんた、化学、わかってるやんか！神様、喜んでますがな～！

彼女、少しや救われたような顔して、笑顔で、ありがとうございました、って言いながら去って言った。やれやれ。。。因みに、私は彼女の化学の成績を保証しません。

こうして、宗教以外のことを宗教と関連させて思春期の子供達と話していると、あたかも芋蔓式にどんどん生徒が集まってくるんです。だから、私は貧乏暇なしに忙しいのです。

Dimensions of Faith, a Gift of the Holy Spirit: Steadfast Trust, Hopeful Patience and Humble Service

Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9). It is also essential for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is important to know, however, for faith to lead to salvation, it cannot be tepid (c.f. Revelation 3:16).

Faith (emunah/ אֱמוּנָה in Hebrew, pistis/ πίστις in Greek) means steadfast fidelity. It is based on firm trust. Therefore, a degree of faith in God means how much trust we have in God and how steadfast our fidelity to God is. Therefore, it is not faith if lacks steadfastness.

The Scripture readings for the 27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time on Cycle C (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Palm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10) teach us what faith is about. This set of readings speaks of the importance of keeping our faith strong so that we do not complain and grow contentious to God, while our steadfast faith in God keeps us humble in serving the Lord. And, the steadfastness of our faith is the strength of faith. What gives our faith strong and steadfast is the Holy Spirit, as Paul reminds in 2 Timothy 1:6, and the strong faith works like the mustard seed, which commands and moves a huge mulberry tree, even though it may seem as small as such a tiny seed (Luke 17:6). Furthermore, Jesus’ words in Luke 17:7-10 remind us that steadfast faith makes us humble servants.

Steadfast trust, patience and humility – these are some characteristics of steadfast faith.

The First Reading, Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4, reminds us that faith is about trusting God. Habakkuk was getting inpatient with God as he was frustrated with rampant injustice. He wonders what God was doing in and when He would intervene. So he complained to God. Then, Habakkuk was reminded to not to be in rush in expecting God’s action to fulfill a prophecy.  “Rush one has no integrity” (Habakkuk 2:4). It means, rush one has no faith.

Faith means trusting with patient hope.

In response to Habakkuk’s frustration with God, the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9) tells that our hearts will not be hardened with frustration and doubt as we hear God’s voice, because listening to His Word affirms and reaffirms our faith – trust – in God. This Responsorial Psalm also reminds us that our faith can be tested to see if it is strong enough so that we will not be tempted as the ancient Israelites on Exodus were at Meribah as in the days of Massah (v. 8; Exodus 17:7; Numbers 20:13).

In a way, there is juxtaposition between how Habakkuk was frustrated with prolonging injustice in Judah and how the Israelites on Exodus complained and became contentious as they experienced prolonged hunger and thirst.  The frustration of Habakkuk and contentious impatience of the Israelites at Meribah as in the days of Massah are reflections of our problem with faith. When our faith is not strong enough, in other words, when our trust in God lacks confidence, we are prone to be like Habakkuk and the Israelites at Meribah as in the days of Messah.

To overcome this problem with faith, in the Second Reading, 2 Timothy 6-8, 13-14, reminds us to stir up the gifts within us through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is to raise the “temperature” of our faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, with all our gifts fully activated. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, how could we let our faith become problematic? Being frustrated with God, like Habakkuk, and complaining to God due to the inabilities to endure, like the Israelites at Meribah as in the days of Messah are symptoms of lukewarm faith due not being filled with the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is of power, love, and self-control (v.6), as we are filled with it can love God with their whole hearts, whole beings, whole strengths, as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:5. Then, we can fully trust God and endure challenges without complaining.

The Gospel reading, Luke 17:5-10, gives another aspect of faith, fortified by the Holy Spirit, and it is humility. Having a steadfast faith makes us humble, and such a faith is as strong as the mustard seed commanding the large mulberry tree to be removed (Luke 17:6). It may look as insignificantly small as a mustard seed, because humility makes our ego so small. The Gospel narrative indicates that the power of faith is relative to humility but in an inverse relation to pride.

Along with anger, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth, and covetousness, pride is one of the seven vices (cf. Galatians 5:19-21) to be overcome by the Holy Spirit, producing its multifaceted fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus, pride needs to be transformed into humility by the power of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to serve.

Remember, salvific faith (Ephesians 2:9) is manifested in deeds (James 2:14-26). And, our Christian faith manifests in our deeds of love, serving one another as Christ has demonstrated and commanded during the Last Supper (John 13:1-35). Reflecting Christ’s commandment for us to love one another (John 13:34) and to be servant leader (Matthew 9:35), Paul reminds us that we show our love in service to one another (2 Corinthians 4:5; Galatians 5:13). Ultimately, our faith needs to manifest in our loving service to the least among us for salvation (Matthew 25:31-46).

Simply accepting and believing in Jesus as our “personal” savior itself will not lead us to salvation. Such a belief is not a genuine faith. Such a belief often leads to lukewarmness, which Jesus despises (Revelation 3:16) and makes him suffer greatly (Diary of St. Maria Faustina, 1228).

As a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9), our faith is strengthened by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14), to be steadfast so that our hopeful trust in God is also unshakably firm and we can remain to be humble servants on Christ’s commandment of love. And, this leads to salvation through necessary virtues.

This set of the 27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time on Cycle C readings (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Palm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10) can be read also in conjunction with 2 Peter 1:3-11, to further appreciate what faith leads to.