Devotion for Luke 17:11-19 | Proper 23–Year C

Today's devotional reading comes from the The Christian Year of Grace and focuses on the Gospel reading appointed for today, Luke 17:11-19.

Scripture Readings

Ruth 1:1–19a
Psalm 111
2 Timothy 2:1–13
Luke 17:11–19

Read the propers for today in Lutheran Service Builder.

Introduction

Abraham journeyed from Ur, finding trials and rest in the promises of God. Ruth left her home country, mingling with God’s people for the sake of His greater plan. The Samaritan leper found restoration from his cast-off state of living in disease and solitude. The devotional reading for today reminds us that just as these foreigners were brought near to God through His mercy and grace, so we, too, have been received into God’s kingdom through Christ Jesus.

Devotional Reading

What does this Gospel show us?

Two things: First, the reason why Christ came into the world, namely, to cleanse us from all sin and restore us to the society of heavenly citizens and residents. Just as lepers because of their leprosy are separated from human society, so we because of sin are separated from the kingdom of God. Therefore, that we may be freed from sin and received again into the kingdom of heaven, Christ must help us as He helped these ten lepers. And that He may help us, we, too, must run to Him and call out, “Jesus, dear Master, have mercy on us.”

Second, this Gospel shows us that simply beginning in the faith does not suffice for justification; one must also persevere in the faith and give thanks to the good and merciful God, for ingratitude is a detestable vice.

What should we learn from [the lepers’ prayer]?

Just as the lepers expected every good from Christ and did not doubt His help, but rather relied on His mercy to cleanse and heal them, and furthermore came to see this healing through their faith, we should learn to do likewise in our own anguish and distress, and not doubt that He will be gracious and merciful to us also. This is an example of faith.

What love did He show the Samaritan?

He had mercy on him, healed him along with the others, and did not repay him for being a Samaritan, a foreigner, a Gentile, but let him join in with the others and partake of His grace also.

Prayer for the Commemoration of Abraham

Lord God, heavenly Father, You promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, You led him to the land of Canaan, and You sealed Your covenant with him by the shedding of blood. May we see in Jesus, the Seed of Abraham, the promise of the new covenant of Your Holy Church, sealed with Jesus’ blood on the cross and given to us now in the cup of the new testament; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Devotional reading is from The Christian Year of Grace, pages 302–4 © 2014 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Prayer is from Treasury of Daily Prayer, page 797 © 2008 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.