When did you last thank God for your blessings and for every single thing you have in your life? - Daily Reflections November 12,2014

GRATITUDE IS HOLINESS

 

Jesus gives a lesson on thanksgiving here. This is rare. The reason is clear; He does not need our gratitude. He heals unconditionally and not to be recognized. He does it as pure service and love. He does it to save.

       We must never think that God is like us who are aching and waiting for appreciation, praise or thanks. God is God. He is complete. But we wonder why Jesus, in our Gospel today, asked about the other nine when one returned to give thanks. Jesus added drama to the story by recognizing the one who returned as a “foreigner,” meaning not a member of the chosen people. It was an insult to the Jews. The Samaritan leper received the grace of healing better than the other lepers who were Jews.

         Why the seeming need to be thanked and glorified? It is because to make an act of gratitude makes us better children of God. When we thank God, we recognize our dependence on Him. We cannot exist without Him. In the process, we enrich ourselves with God’s grace. Being thankful means emptying ourselves and letting God inebriate us with His Spirit. Gratitude is holiness. The word “gratitude” itself is loosely associated with “grace.”

         Jesus encourages us to be thankful to God — not for any selfish reason on God’s part, but for our continuous spiritual advancement towards the fullness of life. When we give thanks, we open ourselves to more graces. The leper who returned received more graces. Jesus recognized his faith, which facilitated his reception of salvation. Thus, gratitude is not just an act of holiness but an opening for salvation.

       To wake up in the morning and live another day is already a great blessing. We have so many things in life to thank God for. Even our challenging and difficult times are opportunities to give thanks to God if we just think about it. We were made to give thanks. Our being is to give thanks. It was not accidental that the main Christian celebration is the Eucharist which means “thanksgiving.” God meant us to always give thanks. To Him, yes, but for our own salvation! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: When did you last thank God for your blessings and for every single thing you have in your life?

 

Lord Jesus, a whole lifetime is not enough to thank You for all that’s in my life — blessings, graces, trials, people. Thank You for everything, Lord!