One of my favorite television shows, second only to West Wing, is the show Ted Lasso. If you have never seen it, I strongly recommend you do. The main character is Ted Lasso, an American-born, college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team in an attempt by the team’s owner to spite her husband, who had just divorced her for a much younger woman. Ted knows nothing of European football. What he does know
is people.
Throughout the show, Ted demonstrates empathy and kindness to everyone, even those who seem to not deserve it. His acts of kindness range from offering a comforting word, to baking biscuits for his boss. Throughout each episode, viewers see how Ted's actions take off as others emulate him, knowingly or not. The shows kindness message has spread, and people around the world are talking about it.
While this show is being recognized for its message on kindness, it also teaches about authenticity, leadership and gratitude, all reflected in one small thing Ted consistently says that has stuck in my mind from the moment I first heard it: Every time someone does or says something helpful, he says, “I appreciate you.” Instead of “I appreciate it.”
This is Ted’s mantra. He appreciates people for who they are, and not just on what they can contribute. So, when you do watch the show, which can only be found on Apple TV, you will not find his team AFC Richmond necessarily a winning team. Quite the contrary. However, Ted does not care. Because what he focuses on are the individuals. He pushes them to be the best that they can be by helping them to realize the power of their abilities both on and off the pitch, helping folks to appreciate themselves in the process. Ted lives gratitude. He teaches it. He lives it. He shares it. Having gratitude and giving thanks are important aspects in our culture.
This show has become a world-wide phenomenon. It shows just how hungry the world is for goodness and kindness and hope. If you are ever in need of just that, then this is the show to watch.
Our readings today reflect the importance of gratitude, not for a need to feel good, but as an act of faith.
In our Old Testament reading from 2 Kings, we read the story of Naaman the Syrian who is cured of his leprosy by the Prophet Elisha. He was a man of position, serving as a commander of the army of the king of Aram and was considered a mighty warrior.
Naaman hears that Elisha, the prophet of Israel, can heal him, so he makes the trip to see him. When the two meet, Elisha tells him rather dismissively that he needs to take a bath in the Jordan River. Well, Naaman’s pride gets the best of him and he refuses to follow this simple direction. I mean, he is a man of great power. A great commander of an army and a brave warrior. Why should he take orders from Elisha, a mere prophet of Israel, to bath in the dirty Jordan River. And so, Naaman ignores Elisha’s suggestion and he prepares to go home.
But it is a servant who convinces him that he should follow this simple request and so he consents to dip himself in the Jordan. When he does, when he finally allows reason to override his pride, for at least this moment and he is miraculously healed by the simple act.
The display of power, so transparently without sacrifice or incantation, awakens Naaman to the fact that Yahweh of Israel is the true God. So, the lesson for us today is why question God’s methods? Instead, we should listen, obey, and respond with a grateful heart. God is good. God is God and we are not. And that is enough.
Likewise in our reading from Luke, in an account of a similar episode, we see another foreigner, a Samaritan, the least likely of all, returns and gives praise to the God of Israel for his healing.
Luke’s gospel tells the well-known story of ten men with a leprous skin condition that rendered them unclean and, therefore, on the outside of society. They seek healing, and Jesus gives it. Only one of them returns thanks to Jesus; the others are too busy getting back into their proper societal position.
And really, who could blame them? These ten men had been outcasts, forced to live on the outskirts of their towns away from family and friends and the comforts of their society. Lepers tended to roam together looking for good, begging for assistance from a great distance, learning to yell in loud voices, both from the need to warn others, and to beg for help from across the way.
And so they cry out to Jesus: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” They must have had knowledge of Jesus. They knew his name and called out to him to cure them. All we are told is that Jesus saw them and said “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”
During this time, the local priest had duties other than leading worship on each Sabbath. He was also something of a health official. If a person was miraculously healed of leprosy, it was up to the priest to inspect the body, to test for a complete removal of the disease, and to announce the person healed. The lepers immediately demonstrate their faith by following Jesus’ instruction even though they still have their disease.
The Greek preposition used en which can mean in, when, while, during, literally translates in the going. They were cleansed in their going (jesuswalk.com)
Notice that Jesus does not question them about their faith. Their actions to reflect that. Only as they are on their way, do we find out that “they were made clean.” Jesus responds to their cries for mercy by drawing from them an act of faith that results in their physical healing. There came a point -- as they began to obey Jesus -- that their healing took place all of a sudden. Had they disbelieved Jesus and laughed at his command as illogical, they would not have been healed. They believed him -- that is, had faith -- and received their healing as a result.
Then we have the ending. With the tenth leper. The only one who once cleansed, returns to give thanks. It is the final words of this reading that resonate with me. As he lay prostrate before Jesus, giving thanks and praising God for being cleansed, Jesus tells him to get up. “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
I like to think that the tenth leper was completely healed in the spiritual sense. He recognized the source of his blessing. The other nine may have been caught up in ego or in self-accomplishment. Jesus asks where the other nine are. Only one returned to glorify God. And it made a difference in his life. He was made whole. Physically and spiritually.
Nine had new skin free from disease — one had new theology
Nine had new careers returning home — one had new conviction
Nine had new opportunity — one had a new hope
Nine had a new outlook — one had a new vision
Nine were restored — one was remade
Nine were released — one was liberated
(Veronica Martin Thomas, I Wanna be Whole, Union Presbyterian Seminary.)
Like the Samaritan, let your faith make you well, move your heart, and inform your every breath and choice, and give all of the glory to God. Amen.
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