Every Day Could Be Thanksgiving by Colleen O’Sullivan
But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
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| James Tissot, The Healing of Ten Lepers, Brooklyn Museum, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
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. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God? Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." (Luke 17:15-19)
Piety
Henry Smith
Give thanks with a grateful heart.
Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now, let the weak say 'I am strong!' Let the poor say 'I am rich!'
Because of what the Lord has done for us, Give thanks.
Study
Just a week and a day and it will be Thanksgiving, replete with parades, football games, and the traditional turkey feast! Hopefully, as family and friends gather around your table, you will pause to give thanks for all your blessings.
But, why wait till Thanksgiving? Every day presents us with the opportunity to be grateful. In our first reading today, Titus is in Crete, where he has been selecting leaders for the church. Two days ago, we read the section of the letter where he was told what qualities to look for in those appointed as presbyters or bishops. Yesterday, we read the verses about how Christian men and women should conduct themselves within their families and how, through the grace of God, they can avoid the ways of the world. The part of the letter we read today reminds us that we were “foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.” Then God sent his Son into the world, bearing forgiveness, mercy, and redemption. We, who couldn’t find a way out of our human dilemma, were given the gift of a Savior.
That same Savior, in today’s Gospel reading, heals ten lepers, restoring them to the community as well as health. Over the weekend I went on an Ignatian Retreat, where one of the suggested activities was to read the first ten chapters of Mark’s Gospel at one sitting. Doing that gives a person a more concentrated look at Jesus and his ministry than does reading the Scriptures one story at a time. Page after page overflowing with stories of love, mercy, healing, and forgiveness. How could anyone not be thankful after reading Mark’s (or any of the other Gospel writers) account of Jesus’ life and ministry up to the point where he goes to Jerusalem?
Action
Without a doubt, there are many troubling things going on in our church, our country, and our world, but God has not deserted us by any means. Everywhere we look, we can see signs of God’s love for us; God’s compassion toward the poor, the homeless and the hungry; and God’s forgiveness of our sins.
When you are praying today, make a special effort to pray with gratitude for the ways in which you have been blessed by God. Don’t be like the nine lepers in today’s Gospel who took for granted what Jesus offered.
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