Returning to the Pulpit

It is with great joy and deep gratitude that I share with you the wonderful news—I will be back in the pulpit on May 25th! First I want to say thanks for your patience, prayers, and generosity as I continue on this journey of recovery. The support you have shown my family and me has been an incredible blessing, something I will never forget.

As I continue to navigate between therapy sessions, MRI appointments, and doctor visits, I will be in the office from Monday to Thursday. However, I’ll be in and out of the office as I catch up with many of you and attend necessary medical appointments. I am concentrating on strengthening my legs, particularly my quads and right calf, but I am also dealing with some spine and nerve issues, as well as headaches. This will be an ongoing recovery process, however I am deeply committed to following my doctors’ recommendations.

This process of recovery has given me much time to reflect, I keep sitting in the garage of the house, looking East and greeting neighbors and thinking about those healing stories of Jesus. The last one that I was considering was the story of the ten lepers from the Gospel of Luke, specifically found in Luke 17:11-19. In this story, Jesus heals ten men who had leprosy, but only one of them, a Samaritan, returns to thank Jesus.

As I prepare to return to the pulpit, (my symbolic returning to Jesus moment) I find this story speaks to me in a very personal way, particularly as I reflect on my own journey of healing.

In Luke 17:11-19, we read that Jesus was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee when He encountered ten lepers. Leprosy, a dreadful and highly contagious disease in ancient times, caused people to be ostracized from society. These men, separated from their families and communities, cried out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus, full of compassion, instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests, as was the custom of the time when someone believed they had been healed. As they went, they were miraculously healed.

But here's where the story takes an interesting turn: only one of the ten lepers returns to Jesus to give thanks. Not only that, but this man was a Samaritan—an outsider in the eyes of the Jews. The Samaritan's return to Jesus, his praise, and his gratitude move Jesus to say, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18, NIV).

At first glance, we might think the most important part of this passage is the miraculous healing itself. After all, Jesus heals ten people, and that is indeed a powerful and moving part of the story. But when we look deeper, we see that the emphasis shifts to gratitude—the one who returns to Jesus to offer thanks.

There are several profound lessons we can draw from this passage, especially in the context of our own personal journeys of healing and recovery.

1. Healing Comes Through Obedience When the ten lepers asked for mercy, Jesus didn’t immediately touch them or heal them in the way we might expect. Instead, He told them to go and show themselves to the priests. In other words, He asked them to act in faith—without yet knowing that they were healed. Their obedience to Jesus’ command was an important part of their healing. Similarly, in our own recovery, it is often through obedience to the advice and guidance of doctors, therapists, and trusted counselors that healing begins. Healing doesn’t always happen instantaneously; sometimes it requires faith and action.

2. The Power of Gratitude Out of the ten men healed, only one returns to give thanks. Jesus points out the lack of gratitude from the other nine, and this makes us pause. It’s a sobering reminder of how easy it is to take our blessings for granted. When life is difficult, we can focus on what’s wrong and forget to give thanks for the healing and blessings we’ve received. But as we see in this story, returning to give thanks not only honors the giver of the blessing—God—but also strengthens our faith and draws us closer to God.

The Samaritan’s return shows us that gratitude is an important part of the process of healing. He must return, because He is Worthy of praise! --- It’s not just about the physical healing, but about the emotional and spiritual healing that happens when we recognize the source of our blessings and take time to express thanks. Gratitude has the power to change our hearts and minds, refocusing us on the goodness of God even in the midst of difficulty.

3. A Reminder of Our Responsibility to Return to God For me, personally, as I prepare to return to the pulpit, this passage is a beautiful reminder of the importance of coming back to God—not only in times of crisis but also in times of healing. Just as the leper returned to Jesus, I too must return to Jesus in gratitude.

My return to the pulpit is not just about fulfilling a pastoral duty; it is about returning to God, offering thanks for the gift of health, and giving Him glory for the journey of recovery.

As I reflect on my own recovery journey, I realize that healing is more than just physical. It’s emotional, mental, and spiritual. As I regain strength in my legs and muscles, I also want to regain strength in my heart and spirit. The process of healing requires patience and humility. It requires recognizing that we cannot do it alone—that God is the ultimate source of our healing, our strength, and our peace.

As I return to the pulpit, it is not only to share a message with you but also to return to the source of my own strength—Jesus. I am returning to give thanks for His mercy, His healing, and His love that have carried me through this difficult time.

This weekend is also special because we will observe Memorial Day. Let us remember that Memorial Day is not a day of celebration but of remembrance. It is a solemn occasion to reflect on the lives of those who died in service to our country, so that we can enjoy what sometimes take for granted. It is a time to acknowledge the weight of freedom—the cost at which it comes—and to remember those who have made that sacrifice.

As we remember the fallen, we are reminded that freedom is not free. Freedom, it requires intentionality, commitment, and a willingness to stand up on behalf of others. In much the same way, our spiritual freedom, the freedom we have in Christ, came at a great cost—the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Memorial Day calls us to reflect on both our national and spiritual freedoms, and to recommit ourselves to living in a way that honors those sacrifices.