(08-09-04) Faith, Repentance & Thanksgiving - Luke 17.11-19
Faith, Repentance & Thanksgiving – Luke 17:11-19
· Spring Harvest burglary!
· Something wonderful being done for you
o an act of real kindness and love
§ nearly always followed by thanks
· and if not, we think there’s something wrong
o the simple meaning of this Gospel story
§ thanksgiving is due to God
· But there are lessons about faith here, too
· Action as a witness to faith – even the smallest!
o “They stood at a distance” (v12)
§ pleading in the faintest hope
§ not willing to break the societal norms
“It’s not great faith you need; it’s faith in a great God. Faith is like a window through which you can see something. What matters is not whether the window is six inches or six feet high and wide; what matters is the God that your faith is looking out on. If it’s the creator God, the God active in Jesus and the Spirit, then the tiniest little peep-hole of a window will give you access to power like you never dreamed of...” (Tom Wright)
o “... as they went, they were cleansed” (v14)
§ obedience, trust, faith...
· Thanksgiving
o faith of the ten, thanksgiving of the one (v15)
· Were the nine cleansed and the one cleansed and saved?
o all nine were cleansed
o but the one is singled out
§ “Get up” (v19) has the same root as resurrection (ajnasta;V)
§ “... your faith has made you well / has saved you” (v19)
· Salvation, in some ways, is not just about faith
o or maybe faith isn’t just about belief...
§ “repent and believe the good news...” (Mark 1:15)
§ “whoever believes and is baptised...” (Mark 16:16)
· Faith and repentance/humility
o “One of them... came back, praising God... He threw himself at Jesus’ feet...” (vv15-16)
o lack of thanks often due to a lack of humility
§ thinking they are above the kind person
§ that this should have been done for them anyway
o thanks acknowledges the grace of the one who acts kindly
§ David’s humble thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 29:10-14)
§ the unwarranted goodness...
· The one’s repentance/humility was evidenced by his thanksgiving
o repentance is all about knowing our place with God
§ always below Him, but;
· as sinners, in need of His forgiveness
· then, duty and joy-bound to thank and praise Him
o “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
o thanksgiving for God’s saving act (Colossians 1:3-4, 9-14)
“It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy at all times and in all places to give you thanks and praise, holy Father, heavenly King, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ your only Son our Lord.” (HE ’04 Eucharistic Prayer 3)
· Here, we celebrate God’s goodness to each and every one
o His ultimate act of kindness – our salvation
o here is an opportunity to add thanksgiving to our faith
§ but so is each and every day...!