There are “specific times” when some people need God in their lives…not everyone mind you…
But some…
When they are going through something … “really going through something”…when they are at wits end, when they do not know where else to turn…when they are scared and frightened…or when they feel lost and abandoned…then, some people turn to God…
But not everyone…
When people are crying out in pain, they often times turn to God, when they are dying – you have no doubt heard before about “deathbed confessions…”
When their life is literally falling apart at the seams and they do not know how to begin the process of healing or putting it back together again…they turn to God.
“Crisis time” is a time when people routinely will turn to God.
Some are there for the short run, while others are there for the long haul…
People come and go, (you know that)…and some dig in … and stay for a while.
We are not to be judgmental. It is what it is. Everyone’s journey is a little different. No two journeys are ever exactly alike. Don’t judge.
Conflict (of any kind) and even advancing age can also bring people to God.
Divorce, Cancer, heart attack, bankruptcy can all bring some people rather quickly to their knees. But again, not all…
For the record, leprosy was the dreaded disease of Jesus’ day, just as cancers and coronaries are the dreaded diseases of our day.
No one in Jesus’ time ever wanted to hear the “L” word. It scared everyone…basically because it was so very contagious. It could actually come in a very mild form or in an extremely serious form.
If it was mild, it involved red or white blotches on the skin. As soon as the blotches were seen or noticed – a person was feared…and despised.
In its more pronounced form it usually involved the disintegration of toes, ankles and feet, fingers, wrists and hands. Even facial features were not immune from disintegration.
Leprosy was treated by immediate quarantining in both mild and severe forms.
You were separated immediately from parents, siblings, relatives, friends, neighbors, spouse, children and all others. (Including your local synagogue or from the Temple…itself)
A leper colony and living outside of all villages, towns and away from all people – was the major requirement.
Basically due to exposure, you would cover your body with rags, let your hair grow and could not allow anyone to come within twelve feet of you. You even had to be concerned about the wind direction. You were an “untouchable for life.”
Just three days prior to this incident Jesus had healed a leper, so his notoriety and fame, no doubt had preceded him.
“Master have mercy on us…Lord, have mercy on us, Jesus have mercy on us. We need your help. We need YOU. Master, have mercy on us…”
Jesus did as they requested. On the way, the lepers noticed the white and red blotches disappearing – they knew and sensed they were being healed.
Elated. Excited. Ecstatic. Free. Off they ran as fast as they could go. To see a priest…to be declared “CLEAN” and then on to father, mothers, siblings, wife, children, neighbors and friends…back to all that really mattered…back to life as they knew it to be.
Certainly, no one could blame them.
They were given a second chance. They were given the gift of life again.
But one of them was different. He was not like the other nine. They left him behind too! They no longer required his company. For you see, he was a hated and despised Samaritan.
But he, remembered, he returned, he sought out Jesus again and finding him, this one fell at the feet of Jesus, thanked him and worshipped God.
The rest moved on with their lives, we assume. We know nothing of their lives religiously. We cannot judge.
But we do know when the crisis has passed, when life gets back to normal once again, people sometimes no longer cry out to God…
When they needed God, they were close to God, and when they didn’t need God any longer, they were off being well…and making up for lost time!
And again, WHO could blame them?