CHRIST DESERVES OUR THANKS!
Luke 17. 11-19

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back,
And with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face
At his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan” (17:15-16, KJV)

A poor beggar in Bujumbura the Capital of Burundi was a very amazing person. Every Friday as all the other beggars used to go over the streets asking for some help, this elderly man as for him went from shop to shop thanking all the Arab traders who had given him something the PREVIOUS WEEK. He never asked for something else, because, as he said, They all knew what he needed. So all he planed to do was to thank them for their charity. And the miracle was that he was always given more and more.

From the History of Israel we learn that Samaritans and Jews were not good neighbours. They hated each other and nobody could imagine seeing Jesus, a Jew, healing Samaritan leper or one of them falling down on his face at Jesus’ feet to thank Him.

A short African story that we teach in our schools tells us about a pigeon that was resting on a branch of a tree next to a pool. Then it saw in the pool an insect which was struggling to get off the water but was very tired and could no longer fly. The pigeon felt very sorry for the insect and said: “Wait, I can help you, my friend!”.
So the pigeon jumped and cut a small piece of branch which it launched quickly in the pool next to the insect. Making great efforts, the insect was finally able to reach the branch and was pushed to the edge by the wind and was able to get out off the water. After a few minutes spent under the sun, the insect’s wings could function again and it flied. The insect never forgot the great good the pigeon did for it.
A couple of days later, the pigeon was at the same place resting on the same branch. A hunter saw it and was preparing to shoot an arrow to kill it. The insect which was flying around saw the danger and quickly landed on the man’s neck and bit him. The hunter unbalanced shot his arrow which went far away from the pigeon position. And so the bird escaped safely.

The next day, while the insect was drinking water from the pool, the pigeon came and landed on the same branch. The insect said:
– My friend, did you see how I bit the hunter who was going to kill you yesterday and made him miss his arrow shoot against you?
– Oh, no, I didn’t realize that. Thank you my dear friend.

The beggar who came back to thank Jesus received an additional blessing which the others missed: “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”, thus he was told by the Lord. This man certainly went his way with a renewed body and heart. Haven’t we realized from time to time that dark situations we were going through have been miraculously solved? Could you remember a certain day you escaped from Satan’s shooting your hope and your faith? Could you remember a certain day while overwhelmed by the deep waters of despair and loneliness you have miraculously seen a branch next to you and hanged on it and got out. “THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE”, the Lord says again. Never fear the devil’s attacks for Christ is there for you! JUST REMEMBER TO THANK HIM. I personally have a corner in my bedroom where I always go and fall down on my face
at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks IN WHATEVER SITUATION! Such childish but so lovely stories have always made me sing Jeremiah Rankin’s hymn “Tell it to Jesus”, which reminds me to go to Jesus for renewal be it in times of blessing or sorrow:
1.Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that’s well known;
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

2. Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow? Tell it to Jesus
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Contact us:
EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH-PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Bishop Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President
P.O. Box 197 Gitega (Burundi)
Tel: (+257)79 877 097
Email: baransajust@gmail.com
SKYPE: Justin Baransananikiye
Website: http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org