(Luke 17)
On the edge, as usual, but this time geographically.
Jesus continues his liminal life
Making his way along the border between
Galilee, (loved by Jews)
And
Samaria, (hated by Jews)
Then it happens - ten lepers call out to be healed.
And the village where it happened may have been on the "wrong side" of the border.
Because one of the lepers was a Samaritan
And this Samaritan, this "foreigner" was the only one to come back
And worship.
A foreigner - literally "one belonging to another race" came back.
Overwhelmed with gratitude because he had been healed.
Jesus, a Jew healed him.
This foreigner rejected by Jews because of his race and by his own people because of his disease.
Was accepted and loved.
Jesus overcame racial prejudice and social rejection. He had encountered one who was poor in spirit.
And Jesus found him
On the borderline.
On the edge.
It may not always be "safe"
But it is where the kingdom comes.