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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK:
Jesus, help me to stop and catch up with my old teachers! Amen.

As Jesus traveled, He met 10 men who had a disease. "Jesus, have pity on us!" they called. Jesus told them, "Go see a priest" - and as they were leaving, they saw they had been healed! One went back to Jesus, shouting thanks. "Ten were healed," Jesus said. "Where are the other nine?" He told the man, "Your faith has saved you."

Isn't it weird to see your old teachers at school? You may not know what to say if you pass them in the hallway; after spending every day with them for a whole school year, you don't belong in their classrooms any more. You've moved on to a new grade.

This week's Gospel (Luke 17:11-19) is about moving on - and looking back. Ten men with a terrible skin disease come to Jesus, begging Him to cure them. They're so contagious, they can't live in town with other people, and they're really suffering.

Jesus does heal them - and they run off shouting in joy like kids at the end of the school year! All they can think about is what's coming up for them: a whole new life, with jobs and wives and good health.

They also leave Jesus standing there. Nine of the 10 men don't even go back to thank Him for the incredible gift He gave them. It's because they're excited, of course; but it's still sad for Jesus that they forget about Him.

Even though your old teachers have new students, they still care about you. They'd probably appreciate it a lot if you stopped in the hallway at least to say hi and ask if they had a good summer.

After all, your new teachers are just getting to know you, but the old ones can remember how different you were a year or two ago. Teachers are proud to see their old students growing and changing.

Besides, the Gospel story taught that everyone likes to be thanked when they do a good job - teachers at school or even the ultimate teacher, Jesus!


(10/07/10)[[In-content Ad]]

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