The lepers called out to Jesus. They all had the same encounter with Jesus, but all walked away changed in different ways. Even though they were all healed, it seems that only the Samaritan recognised the life-changing experience with Jesus. The others returned to life as it was before they got sick, went back to their families and work, back to the temple without another thought of Jesus.
There was no consideration of the miracle that had taken place and how this affected their lives.
The Samaritan, on the other hand, realised even before getting to the priest, that his life had been changed. He turned back to acknowledge this. The action also indicated a turning around of his life, a change, and a new beginning. His encounter with Jesus was transformational. Jesus saw him, reached out to him, received him, and
commended him for his faith.
Often, in our lives, we experience the same event as another and are left affected or unaffected. At times, we share similar emotions and responses to encounters with others. What we describe as a life-changing event may not be for another. God works in mysterious ways and touches the lives of those we least expect.
We all have an
encounter with Jesus, but are we all equally affected?
Reflect on your encounters with Jesus? How have these encounters affected your life?
Reflections by Gillian
Hugo
