Jesus is journeying the borderlands between Samaria and Galilee when he encounters ten desperate lepers, outsiders among outsiders, begging for mercy at a distance. But when only one—a scorned Samaritan—returns to give thanks, Jesus reveals a stunning twist that cuts to the heart of faith, humility, and gratitude. In this episode, we’ll get our bearings with Holy Land geography, unravel the deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans, and see how this dramatic healing points toward the mystery of the Eucharist. Strap in as we uncover ancient rivalries, ritual boundaries, and the explosive mercy of Jesus that knows no limits.

Journeying through Luke’s story of the cleansing of ten lepers, we’ll uncover:

The geographic, historical, and tribal context behind the fierce Jewish-Samaritan animosity, including shocking incidents like the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple with human bones and the destruction of the Samaritan Temple at Mount Gerizim [00:05:00]

Why Jews traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem would go far out of their way to avoid Samaria, and how Jesus’ route along the Decapolis reveals deeper tensions that shape this Gospel moment [00:11:20]

Luke’s subtle but powerful way of preserving the dignity of the lepers by calling them “ten men with leprosy” rather than simply lepers, and what this means for our own way of seeing others [00:14:55]

The real meaning and rare usage of the Greek title “Epistada"—Master—on the lips of the lepers, a word typically reserved for Jesus’ closest disciples [00:22:05]

How the order for the Samaritan to show himself to the priest could have been a literal death sentence, given the temple’s inner barriers and the chilling warning inscribed in Greek on its latticed screen [00:45:15]

Why the word for thanksgiving in this Gospel passage, “Eucharistone,” is directly connected to our celebration of the Eucharist, inviting us to respond to divine blessings with gratitude that echoes the heart of the Mass [01:00:22].

(Mass Readings for October 12, 2025)

For the full show notes including citations and small group discussion questions, visit: kptz.io/28OT-C25