The story of Jesus cleansing the ten lepers is usually held up as a reminder of the importance of thanksgiving — a good lesson. Another lesson is hidden in the story. Jesus said to the lepers, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” The one who returned to give thanks did not obey this command of Jesus! That says to me that simply following orders, doing the assigned task is not enough. We must be attentive to those human things — giving thanks, showing appreciation, sharing encouragement, affirming another — for they are as important as fulfilling an assignment. No doubt eventually the grateful leper who was healed made his way to the priest, but he first had to make the human gesture of connecting with another human being.
