The world today has largely almost forgotten about Leprosy, one of the oldest but still existing and most devastating necrotizing (flesh-eating) diseases. Although largely reduced to the barest minimum, leprosy still exists in certain parts of the world, particularly India…
Although a bacterial disease (caused by Mycobacteria leprae), a complete and quick cure for leprosy is still enigmatic as available antibiotics can take months to years to offer complete relief. Even that, treatment failure still exists!
At its advanced stage, leprosy destroys and literally “eats out” the nerves, bones, skin, flesh, eyes, and almost every tissue that stands in its way until the poor victim succumbs to this unforgiving tyrant.
Indeed, leprosy is a slow-growing, silent, and patient disease that has maimed, disgraced, incapacitated, and killed millions of people for millennia. Prior to the advent of antibiotics, getting leprosy was akin to HIV/AIDS or Ebola today: a veritable death sentence and perpetual proscription from contact with humanity. Even Kings and nobles were not spared and when found to be infected, they were dethroned/dispossessed and banned from society.
In Biblical times, the leprous man lived outside the city and shouted “unclean, unclean!” whenever they came into human society to avoid spreading the disease to others. Thus, people were willing to exhaust their life savings if only they will get healed. This must explain the gratitude of Naaman, the Syrian general healed of leprosy by Elisha, and the joy of Simeon, the Pharisee healed of leprosy by Jesus. These two men were so grateful and happy that they willingly gave their all to their healers…
Thus, Jesus Himself was very surprised when only one Samaritan leper out of 10 lepers who were healed freely, returned to thank Him for His merciful kindness (Luke 17:11-19 ). How could they be thus ungrateful! In this story of the 10 lepers is epitomized the ingratitude of the world. Of the billions walking in this world, how few there are who acknowledge and praise the Creator for His loving kindness and gracious care! How fast are we to run to Him in time of need, and as soon as the “storm is over”, we abandon Him as fast as we went to Him…
Oh, ungrateful humanity! All around us are the manifold blessings of God, but how do we pay Him back for His loving kindness? How many of us haven’t been ungrateful to our friends, parents, peers, colleagues, etc, for some great good they have done us?
Is it always the case, that a friend in need, is a friend indeed? Should we stop being kind to others because of the ingratitude of the many or few? Has God stopped caring for us despite our ingratitude?
It’s never too late to thank God and our human benefactors… It is better late than never. Let us show our gratitude to God on this Holy Sabbath by keeping His commandments, blessing our fellow humans in need, and praising Him for His wondrous works, protection, and loving care…
May the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly Host fill our houses as we start another week…
