The Ungrateful Majority

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

~~2 Kings 5:14-17~~Psalm 98~~2 Timothy 2:8-13~~Luke 17:11-19~~

 

The mystic, Meister Eckhart, says if the only prayer
we ever said in our entire life
was 'Thank you' it would be enough.
The first reading and the Gospel are connected
 with the theme of gratitude.

Both passages today are concerning diseased persons
who are considered unclean by their society.
Both are healed by God...restored to health.
Both readings speak of foreigners.

The military leader, Naaman, is healed by following
 Elisha's instructions to bathe seven times in the Jordan River.
The Jordan was not a mighty impressive river.
He may have doubted it would have any effect at all, but he did as he was told.

When he was cleansed he wanted to show his appreciation
 by giving gifts to Elisha.
Elisha expected nothing in return.
Elisha was doing the work of the Lord it was
 not for his honor and glory.

...none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?

 

There are so many things in our daily lives that we take for granted.

 God has always chosen those individuals
with open minds and hearts to act on his behalf.

Today God works through the prophet Elisha.
 Jesus is passing through Samaria and Galilee
when the ten lepers sought out his healing power. 

 

 

 Jesus healed without even touching them or even praying over them.
He simply tells them to present themselves to the priests.
This was to gain their permission to be reunited with the community.
Proof of their healing.

"Go show yourselves to the priests."

 

This group of ten of diverse backgrounds were joined together
because of their common illness. 

 

 Jesus makes no distinction between the Jews and the Samaritan.
The only one who did return to thank Jesus was in fact the Samaritan.
It was the foreigner who was the most grateful for his healing.

How many times I have failed to thank God?
I do remember the big things, but too many times
 I fail to mention the little incidentals.

 

 Every time we are in attendance at Mass
we are participating in a celebration of thanksgiving.
The word Eucharist means thanksgiving.
Jesus first gave thanks at his last supper.

Only one of the ten returned to give thanks.

 So where would you have been?
Would you have returned to thank Jesus?
Would you have been like the majority and just
 gone on with your life?

Blessing today come from thanking God
for all that he has done for you no matter how trivial it seems.