Does not Jesus say to the ten lepers, "Go and show yourselves to the priests"? He does not say anything about coming back to tell him what the priests said or did; he does not mention that he expects the lepers to return and thank him for their healing.

Yet when one does come back to thank him, he asks, "The other nine, where are they?" The one who returns gives no answer to that question. But he could have said, "They are following your instructions. They are on their way to show themselves to the priests."

Down through the ages the nine non-returning lepers have been condemned, ridiculed, and held up as glaring examples of insensitivity and lack of gratitude. How many sermons based on this story have been used to berate congregations for not being thankful enough, especially at the Thanks…