Matthew 6:25-33 (C)

Thanksgiving DayLuke 17:11-19 (L)

In the small town of Mapleville, the ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service was poorly attended. Once it was a popular event for the whole town, gathering people from a variety of denominations and faiths. In recent years, attendance had faded to a faithful few. Most of those who came in any given year were members of the host congregation. What began as a spirited occasion that brought together a variety of clergy, choirs, and congregations had shrunk in numbers and dwindled in enthusiasm.

One minister was particularly frustrated by the meager turnout. When the Mapleville clergy association asked him to preach one year, he nailed together a sermon on the story of Jesus and the ten lepers. Climbing into the pulpit, he retold the story of h…