I am sure that you have all heard the phrase or at least something like: “life is a journey”. As you may already know, this is actually a biblical concept. And of course, the meaning of “life is a journey” in biblical thinking is much different than the world. Despite its ignorance and unbelief, the people of the world may observe from creation and understand there is a kind of movement, of journeying through time, and through life.

We are surrounded by movement and motion in this life. Even if a person stops to rest a while: time, animals, seasons, people continue to march and move around them. There is always a movement to something and away from something else. There is always a destination whether it is for a purpose or as a result: of our actions or someone else.
Think about this: Even if we are standing and sitting still it is because we are watching something or listening to something or someone, hopefully for learning and growing. Or we are still because we are waiting for something to come to us, like an opportunity, an idea, for our turn in order to conduct business, our meal, or we are resting there waiting for our energy to return.

People should be thinking of the movement of life itself in terms of goals, of growth. In each moment, we should ponder the reason we make the decisions that we do or do not make. Each decision, each movement, each moment ends up with its own destination or result. This is an important understanding. We may have a clear idea of our goals but we may forget that little decisions may distract and wind up directing us away from whatever goal it is. Or maybe we only have a hazy idea of where we would like to end up in the end, but by just going with the flow, we will definitely be guided in our decisions day to day, week to week by our selfish desires.

There is a definite spiritual and religious dimension to ALL of this, Because of sin, we don’t always make good decisions about where we want to end up or how we get there. Sometimes we think only in terms of the here and now. But spiritually and religiously speaking there are only two destinations and goals. As we live in this time on earth we are either being moved towards God by repentance and faith by His Holy Spirit to eternal life… or we are moving away from God by our rebellion, our ingratitude, our self-worship, apathy or worship of the things of this world. As we move away from God by our sin, to which destination are we headed? That’s right: eternal death and judgement.

That is partially why there is so much movement and action language in the Bible. Have you ever noticed how much movement there is?… in the Gospels, and really in the Bible in general? It is not the only concept nor even the chief concept, but there it is: Journey-ing. There is much talk of paths, roads, or the going by “the way” or along the way, (The early church and its beliefs were even referred to as “The way” in Acts 9). The Bible uses includes many details regarding feet and sandals, travel, walking and running. There are constant movements to or away. There is travel and there is standing still, but there is always a purpose or a result.

We heard this theme it in the Proverbs reading today.
“the way of wisdom;…the paths of uprightness.”
When you walk in the way of wisdom and righteousness, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
The other path is this: …”the path of the wicked,
    do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. The wicked and evil seek to cause you stumbling.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.
My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
    For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh.
Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

These are great words of advice from our Lord in Proverbs chapter 4. It describes the fact that really there are ultimately only the two paths going in directly opposite directions through the journey of earthy life. The way of life or the way of death. But who hasn’t stumbled and fallen at some point? Who hasn’t swerved to the right or left at least once, returning to the path of wickedness?

Well, that brings us to the Gospel lesson. Jesus knew where He was going and why. We need to remember that every time we hear anything regarding the life and ministry of Jesus, we should realize that there are definite answers to the questions: Why was He wherever He was or where He was going? Everything He did, He did with purpose. Why was He on earth to begin with? The purpose of that earthly ministry and life which seemed to be stopped at the cross outside Jerusalem, but arrived there and progressed from the cross of Golgotha for your salvation and the salvation of the world. So that you could be placed again and again upon the path of righteousness which leads to eternal life by the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus was not to be stopped by death, nor your sin and the sin of the world. The Son of God through His dying, destroyed death and the work of the evil and wicked plotters who still seek our stumbling. Christ Jesus has won. He lived, died, rose again, and ascended to send the Spirit for your healing and your salvation. So that you would no longer be spiritually cast away from Him but could be and would be returned to and brought back to Himself, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

At the moment of our Gospel lesson Jesus was on His journey through Samaria and Galilee to Jerusalem, to accomplish this work of Redemption. As He passed through there were 10 lepers standing and waiting for Him. In the midst of their death sentence outcast condition because of their leprosy, they retained hope. They hoped in this Jesus of Nazareth to come to them, to have mercy on them. They called him “epistates” which means overseer, not Master…the one who is the caretaker. They did all have faith or at least hope (which has faith within it). So they hoped in Him. He passed through that way, knowing this moment would come and Jesus told them literally to “journey” to the priests to show themselves. He didn’t say that they would be healed, but they were on their way. And one turned back from His journey. He returned to the healer. This Samaritan knew that Jesus was the Messiah, God Himself, for the Gospel says that He journeyed back praising God and completely prostrated Himself at the feet of Jesus in worship and thanksgiving. After speaking with Him, Jesus sent the man forth “on his way” reminding him that he was made well by faith.

This Gospel text teaches the importance of gratitude to be sure. But not only in times of being healed of diseases or in times of joy or great accomplishment… We are to live this life’s journey giving thanks because God has healed us of our death sentence and our outcast condition, by taking our sins upon the great high priest Jesus Christ. We have been baptized into His sacrifice which has paid for our sins and have been given the knowledge of the way of salvation.

How do we know the way? As the Proverb said: “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”

So what is the path of your feet? Where are you to be gazing straight ahead toward? What about your loved ones? If the path is not lit by the light of Christ’s crucified and raised then it is going the wrong way. If you are not looking to Christ and meditating on how and where your feet are turning, then Return. Repent. Look to the cross of Jesus. Be led by Him and His Word which is the way of salvation and all your ways in the journey of this life will be sure. That doesn’t mean life will be predictable. That doesn’t mean that life here on earth will be easy or glorious or pain free. No. But your way will be sure. The sureness is referring to your destination. The destination that is yours because of faith in Jesus Christ your Savior, redeemer, the overseer of your soul and body: eternal life with Him.

Even now He encourages you on the way. Proverbs said that the evil eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But God through Jesus Christ gives the bread of life and righteousness in Christ’s body given for you. He gives the wine of peace and reconciliation in Christ’s blood.

The liturgy itself has movement mimicking the movement of Christ’s ministry and service. Entering, processing, standing, sitting, walking, kneeling, returning, recessing…The movement of God to us, gathering us to Him, and then Him sending us out along the journey and vocation to which we have been called, having confessed, been absolved, taught, encouraged, fed, and nourished. Leaving with His blessing and promises.

Keep your gaze, your eyes of faith straight toward the cross and your way and goal will be made sure. Glorify Him, give thanks to Him, go and journey along life’s path to life eternal with Jesus Christ forever in His grace and joy. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas