Which leper are you? (Sunday homily)

Ten lepers were on their way to the Temple.

The first leper said to the second leper,
“That Jesus didn’t have much time for us, did he?
Not very pastoral, is he?”

“I know,” said the second leper.
I wanted to tell him everything he needs to change!
What about lay involvement?”

The third leper said to the fourth leper,
“You know, when I was a kid,
they’d have used the old prayers—I like those better!”

The fourth leper said to the fifth leper,
“Why’d that leper bring her kids?
How was I supposed to talk to Jesus with them around?”

The fifth leper said the sixth leper,
“You know, Jesus could have healed me years ago!
Do you know a good lawyer?
I think we have a class-action lawsuit!”

The sixth leper said to the seventh leper,
“I could go back and thank Jesus—but he knows I’m busy:
I’ve a lot to do—sports and chores and stuff.
it’s not like Jesus needs me to go be with him.”

The seventh leper said to the eighth leper,
“Look, we’re all OK, but—that Samaritan!
Did you see how he dresses?
Those tattoos, those earrings—
You know, he must be one of those types,
if you know what I mean!”

The eighth leper looked around.
“Yeah, it’s not like I’m prejudiced or anything,
but why don’t they stay with their own kind?

“Say . . . where’d that Samaritan go, anyway?”

“Just as well,” said the ninth leper.
“He would’ve just made trouble.”

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

Ten lepers walked down the street. Which one are you?