Luke 17:11-19
Lectionary 28 in Ordinary Time; 21st Sunday After Pentecost
What difference does it make? What difference does St. Stephen Lutheran Church make in the world, and in this community? What difference does it make for you to be part of our church community? What difference do you make in the lives of others because you are part of this church community? What difference does Jesus Christ make?
In various ways, I’ve asked you these questions, and you have told me stories. Unlike rooster sightings, I welcome your stories, and invite you to come and share them with me. What difference does St. Stephen make in your life? What difference do our ministries make? What difference do you make?
One of the blessings of our Lutheran Student Association is the relationships that are fostered. We get to know them when students serve as faith formation teachers and lectors. We engage with them when they help with our Health Ministry and our Youth Ministry. For our part, we cook dinner on Sunday evenings and then join them to eat. Our adopt-a-student program forms deep and lasting relationships.
One of our students told me about the adoptive parents he had a few years ago. He didn’t use the word “adoptive.” They were just his “parents.” Now he sees them as his “church grandparents.” This student’s first year at William and Mary was one of challenges. He along with all the freshman were meeting new people, and making new friends. One of the people he met disappeared part way through the semester. After some time, information came trickling down that this student was in a rehab center.
Our student had never been in this situation before, but knew that he didn’t want his classmate to feel alone. (We have the best students!) He wanted to go see him, to show that people care and to support his classmate, but he didn’t have a car. He talked with his adoptive parents, and they drove both him and his friend. It turned out that the person had changed rehab facilities and visiting hours were different. The adoptive parents made another trip, and this time the LSA Student and his friend were able to visit.
The student in rehab had not had any visitors, and his parents were out of the country. The visit from his classmates touched him, and encouraged him. This is Jesus’ love shown through our people.
One member of our congregation recounted being new to Virginia. She discovered that some part of her life was missing, and she found that missing piece here, at St. Stephen. Your hospitality drew her back. Our worship service helped her feel at home. The fact that she did not feel judged was important. Soon her husband noticed the difference St. Stephen made in her life, and he began coming, too. They formed relationships. Because of their love for the church, they both found this a place to use their gifts and are serving in multiple ways. This is Jesus’ love shown through our people.
On the way to the cross, Jesus was going through an area that bordered peoples at odds with each other. Entering a town, ten lepers came to him begging for mercy. Jesus healed their leprosy and sent them on their way. One, the minority in the group, turned around, laid himself at Jesus’ feet and said, “Thank you.” “Thank you, Jesus, for looking past my skin. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for curing my disease.” Jesus said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” To practice gratitude is to practice faith.
I wonder what this healed person did when he got back home. Did he make meals for those with no permanent home? Did visit those who are sick and unable to go out? Maybe he took up quilting, and his quilts given to Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Relief will send them to places like North Korea, where orphans will wrap themselves in their warmth, and to Haiti, where people who lost everything in Hurricane Matthew will use them as blankets and carrying bags. These quilts don’t just bless the people who receive them. They bless the people who make them.
This is how faith works. Jesus loves us, and brings us healing and forgiveness. When we turn to give thanks, like the tenth leper, we are made whole and sent on our way. To intentionally practice gratitude for what God has given us changes our lives, which in turn change others’ lives.
Our mission is not to simply our ethical duty; it is the work of our grateful hearts. We are gathered together to worship, not just to get something out of it, but to give thanks and to give back. The giving of your time and talents are the difference that we make in people’s lives.
So is your money. The building in which we worship, the music that we sing, the staff who oversee, lead, and keep us on track, faith formation materials, and even bread and wine cost money. We are blessed by a generous God so that we may respond generously.
In our preparation to gather around the table together, to eat of the bread and the wine, we say, “It is right to give our thanks and praise.” How will you do that? What difference will you make in response to Jesus’ love for you?
~Pastor Cheryl Ann Griffin