An amazing healing follows: ten lepers are cleansed -- sort of matter-of-factly, actually. Jesus doesn't say anything but "go and show yourself to the priest," and they go, they obey. Just by going, they are cleansed. But one notices what has happened and turns back to give thanks. Only one -- a Samaritan. Huh.
After the amazing act of thanksgiving, Jesus warns his disciples about coming persecution. Jesus says, as in the days of Noah, there will be no warning given before the time of persecution. Don't try to go back and get your suitcases, don't hesitate. And the famous phrase, "Left behind" is in this section of scripture, as in "two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and one will be left behind." I remember that in college one of my friends told me that he thought "left behind" should be interpreted as just the opposite of the way we have heard it. The one who is left behind is the fortunate one, and the one taken is "taken away", as in the days of Noah. I find this idea intriguing.
The next two parables are both about prayer, although in different ways. The first, about the widow and the unjust judge, is one of the most haunting to me. Prayer and justice -- to Luke, these two go together. In modern life it often seems to me that those who are most concerned about prayer are not so concerned about justice (at least, justice for the poor); those who are concerned about justice often don't make much mention of prayer. But for Luke, they go together and are, in fact, the basis for faith. "Persist in seeking justice; persist in prayer." Both are difficult, maybe impossible, like the camel going through the eye of the needle, or the rich man getting into the kingdom.But with God, all things are possible --- justice for the widow, justification for a tax collector.
Jesus is almost to Jerusalem. He heals a blind man -- his last reported miracle.
What will he do next?
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