Restored to Community
Scripture: “But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me… Turn back, my daughters; go your way.'” (Ruth 1.8, 11)
Main Point: Jesus doesn’t just heal our bodies; He restores us to the community we’ve lost.
In the ancient world, leprosy meant more than physical suffering—it meant social death. The ten lepers couldn’t sit at dinner tables, embrace their children, or worship in the synagogue. They were outcasts, living outside the village, separated from everything that made life worth living.
Naomi understood this kind of alienation. She had lost her husband and both sons in a foreign land. She felt empty, bitter, forgotten by God. She tried to push Ruth away, saying essentially, “Go back. I have nothing to offer you. There’s no place for you with me.”
But when Jesus healed the ten lepers, He gave them more than healthy skin—He gave them back their place in the community. By healing them, He restored them to friends, family, worship, and belonging. This is what the Master does: He brings alienated people home.
Perhaps you’ve felt like Naomi—empty, bitter, convinced you have nothing to offer. Or maybe you’ve felt like those lepers—standing at a distance, watching life happen without you. The Master sees you. And He’s in the business of bringing people home.
Reflection: Have you experienced a “social death”—losing your place in a community? How might Jesus be working to restore you to belonging?
Prayer: Merciful Master, You see me in my loneliness. Restore me to the community You have for me. Help me believe I belong. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Responses