‘In its welfare, you will find your own…’

October 12, 2025

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

I feel that today’s passage is in some ways related closely to last week’s passage that immediately preceded it in Luke’s gospel, in terms of how it can speak boldly into our present reality. You may recall that we heard the disciples begging Jesus to ‘increase our faith’! They felt they needed a greater quantity of faith in order for them to be able to meet the discipleship challenges he had placed before them…challenges which asked them both to love unconditionally, and to maintain an endless capacity to forgive others. Jesus responded to their request to ‘increase their faith’ by intimating that in truth they did not understand the nature of genuine faith at all, and that actually they already had the capacity to begin to act in all the ways he had taught them, even with the ‘mustard seed sized’ faith they had.

It seems that prior to their request, the disciples thought that faith was a God-given talent, or a capacity to act in all the ways they were being asked to, as well as a belief that their ability to do what they were asked, was somehow directly related to the amount of faith they had. I think that they felt that in order to truly imitate what they saw Jesus doing, they needed something much more than they had. Jesus’ response however indicated that faith was the consequence of living a life walking in his steps…listening to him, and then stepping out in answer to a perceived need. True faith, of any quantity, was part of a living and vibrant relationship between a believer and the Lord…an openness to allow the Spirit to work through an individual in ways that were both human and divine…and something that grew in proportion to one’s trust in the abiding presence of the Lord, and, as in getting to Carnegie Hall, with…practice, practice, practice!

I deeply believe that faith is the ‘affirming evidence’ of what God is already doing through us to make a difference in the world…true faith is the action of God in the moment, as it occurs within and through a yielded and fully engaged life. And therefore, not surprisingly, for faith to truly be effective it needs to be watchful, must involve listening, and be able to carefully discern ‘need’.

With that in mind let’s look back at today’s gospel text. Jesus recognized a real need when the 10 lepers first called out to him, and he responded in love with specific healing instructions for them all. Next, we hear that one leper who saw that he had been healed returned to Jesus to give thanks and to praise this God who was able, not only to restore him to health and wholeness, but in so doing, had also given him the ability to rejoin and become fully a part of the community once again. Both Jesus and that one leper were part of this exchange of grace through faith, the need was perceived, and the healing was offered and received with thanksgiving.

Which makes me wonder, how well do we see, and how carefully are we listening, and how often? And when we do see or hear of a need, how quickly and how willing are we to act? Do we ever have reservations, I know I do…do we step cautiously…or do we respond in love, trusting that God will be right there with us, trusting that every time God’s grace will be sufficient to cover our stepping out in faith?

In truth, I think we all see many things…some of which we take notice of, and perhaps others that are filtered out before they become fully a part of our consciousness. We all see many things, many situations throughout the day…but are we seeing them with the eyes of the God’s Spirit that dwells within us? Do we perceive them as God does…and are we prompted to take action?

It is not news for me to tell you that we live in a time of great uncertainty…a time when there is much noise, and increasingly more concern regarding much of what we had, until recently, accepted as the ‘grace of God’, in giving us such wonderful freedoms, as well as multiple blessings. Much of that assurance however seems to be becoming more and more tenuous as we hear stories that are jarring and deeply concerning. Living into a deep and profound faith today seems like either a risky bet, or maybe…just maybe if we are honest, ‘the only thing we have left that we may be able to fully trust in’!

Sensing and seeing needs within our community and reaching out, is who we are…but is it enough? Do we really see, and do we act on all that which is behind the sharp decline in the numbers of our neighbors who previously were regular customers in our Thrift Shop or in our Food Pantry? Are we willing to look even more deeply into the lives and concerns of these, who in truth are more deeply impacted and more fearful every day? And if we are willing, what does that look like? Are we ready to accept that sometimes simply ‘lifting up a quick prayer’ might not actually be enough…that we may need to really get involved…that we may need to roll up our sleeves and perhaps even use our own resources on behalf of our neighbors and friends?

Is our relationship with the Holy Spirit one that gives us both the boldness and confidence to assert that ‘if God asks, and if God wants, then God will find a way to provide’? Are we willing to stand tall in the gap between needs seen, and actions required, and then to take the first step? Are we bold and brave enough in our faith?  I think we can be…or can become so. Indeed, if we really believe that the Spirit wants and needs us to further the purposes of God, then all things are possible…as we heard in last week’s gospel reading, with a tiny bit of faith, ‘even mountains can be moved’! 

And it is here that today’s first reading from Jeremiah may begin to shed some light, even though at first it may seem like strange advice given the times we are in. You may recall that last week’s reading from Lamentations was a reaction to the deep distress and dislocation of those who had been taken from Jerusalem and into exile in Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar had sacked the city. The book of Lamentations from which our reading was drawn reflects the deeply heartfelt longings and abject sadness of those whose world had been turned so completely upside down…they were fully forlorn and surely felt completely dislocated. And yet, even in the midst of that tragic story, last week’s author had found a way to offer up hope…hope in a God who was still God, and hope and trust in a God whose promises of steadfast love were still worth believing in.

As the opening words of today’s passage indicate, Jeremiah was directly addressing those who were taken off into exile. But rather, as one might expect, rather than telling them to ‘fight back’, or to seek after a means of escaping their dire predicament, he asks of them something very very different. Something so different in fact, that one might wonder what those who first heard his words actually thought or felt. For Jeremiah, speaking for the Lord, counsels them to, ‘seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare’.

What a seemingly strange request to make of a people so recently devastated and emotionally crippled. What was Jeremiah thinking? In truth, I think these words written so long ago, may help us to better understand our role as Christians right here, and right now. While it seems plausible that a ‘normal’ reaction to the circumstances we currently find ourselves in would be to ‘fight back’, and to take any and all measures available to wrestle our way back to some semblance of our previous sense of ‘order and comfort’, this does not seem to be what Jeremiah is asking.

And yet, somehow it also makes sense for us to live a life of quiet calm, coupled with a steadfast commitment to make our community a better place for all who dwell right here…to serve one another without fear or prejudice, to give without needing or expecting to be paid back, to extend ourselves in reaching out to whoever it is that has been placed on the pathway before us.

‘Seeking the welfare’ of our own community, of our own community right now and right here, seems like it can accomplish two things that are both critical. First, it can truly help those who are the most afraid, letting them know that there still are good people right alongside them who are genuinely concerned for their well being, and are willing to stand by their side through whatever comes. But secondly and equally as important, if I am being truthful, I am sure there are some in every community who do not currently feel threatened and who may endorse the happenings and current goings-on…people who for whatever reason feel comfortable looking out for their own interests, and who feel that things are not really that serious or concerning.

Being kind and caring for these as well, and working to include them in the ‘welfare of the community’ we are working so hard to share, just may open their eyes and soften their hearts…perhaps even by grace, revealing that the way of compassion and care for all of our brothers and sisters is truly a better way to be…for all…even for them.

So, let us boldly look deep into our own souls, asking the Lord to use us more fully each and every day in holy service. And with that boldness let us seek after the welfare of our community in all the ways we can, individually and together, as those who know who it is they are following…

For in doing so, we will have begun making the only difference that seems possible in the times and circumstances we find ourselves in. In seeking after the welfare of our ‘city’, we surely will ‘find our own welfare’…and the overall welfare of our community, will be strengthened and enhanced as well…

…May the Spirit of our God add his blessing to our every intent to seek after the welfare of our community, in imitation of, and according to, the example so lovingly offered to us by our Lord, and as revealed through Jeremiah…

…amen