Thanksgiving That Transforms

In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus met ten lepers who

pleaded with Him for help. Jesus instructed them to go and

show themselves to the priests. No healing had taken place,

and yet they believed in Jesus so much they did what He

commanded, they obeyed! As they traveled they were

miraculously healed.

But that is only part of the story. One of the ten lepers, when

he realized he had been cured, came back to find Jesus and

than him. This leper, by the way, was a Samaritan, which

made him a double outcast.

The reading this week offers us an important lesson about

gratitude. Last week’s gospel made the point that God does not

owe gratitude to us simply because we are doing our duty. We

are the ones who have received undeserved gifts from the

Lord: mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. Therefore, we, and

not God, should be the ones expressing gratitude.

Gratitude is not only the proper attitude we should have when

we receive blessings, it is also the ONLY attitude that will

produce happiness.

There are people in our society who have been truly blessed;

they are healthy and wealthy, and have all kinds of wonderful

opportunities most people can only dream about. And yet,

many of them have very little gratitude. As a result, they are

miserable most of the time. They are not happy, and they have

the habit of making everyone who comes near them not very

happy either. After all, who enjoys being in the presence of a

chronic complainer?

On the other hand, there are some people who seemingly have

been treated badly by life. They have a lot of problems and

struggles. They have little money, and maybe suffer from

serious health issues. But they are grateful for what they do

have, and they are especially grateful to God for helping them

through the rough times. As a result, they are truly happy and

content.

It seems sometimes like the more we have the more we

complain.

This week’s reading makes it clear that we are not talking

about a matter of mere protocol or etiquette. We are not just

being polite to God when we show Him gratitude. We receive

profound spiritual benefits when we express thanks and praise

toward God.

All ten lepers were healed physically, but only the one

Samaritan was also healed spiritually. His gratitude healed his

soul after his faithful trip to the priests had healed his body.

We should follow the Samaritan leper’s behaviour. If it has

been a while since we praised God in a loud voice and threw

ourselves at the feet of Jesus in worship, maybe we should try

it. We, not God, will benefit the most. This expression of

gratitude will make us truly happy. Let’s remember it as we

celebrate the Thanksgiving Feast!

Fr. Janusz Roginski, S.A.C.