The Gospel reading today has the famous story of Jesus healing the ten lepers and yet only one returns to say thank you.

Fred Craddock tells a story about a preacher who was haranguing his congregation about their ingratitude. Preaching from this text, he continually asked, “Where are the nine? Where are the nine? Where are the nine?”

Someone on the back row whispered under his breath. “I don’t know where they are, but I wish I was with them.”

It is a funny story. But ingratitude? There is nothing funny about that.

Chris Smith