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October 7, 2022Today’s first reading and the Gospel both emphasize the importance of gratitude for God’s gifts. Naaman and the ten lepers in Luke’s Gospel were all healed of leprosy. In ancient times, lepers not only suffered from terrible disfigurement but also were social outcasts barred even from religious observance. All of Luke’s ten lepers had faith in Jesus. Upon seeing Jesus, they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us.” Jesus heard their cries and was moved to heal them all. But only the Samaritan returned, falling to the ground at the feet of Jesus and thanking Him. So, what are we to take away for this for our own faith journey? Are we like the nine who, overjoyed by their healing, rushed off to resume their lives without a moment spent in gratefulness and thanksgiving? Do we pause every day to thank God for being alive in this free country? Do we take our own health and modern health care systems as a given rather than a gift? Like the lepers, we may say we believe in God, but true faith entails more than professing our belief. True faith always requires us to take action, to respond. The Samaritan returned to express not only his gratitude but demonstrate his desire to draw closer to Jesus. How are we responding to the many gifts in our lives? Are we using them wisely and sharing them with others less fortunate? Everything we have comes from God. We must acknowledge that God is God and we are not! He doesn’t need our gratitude, but we need to offer it to grow in our relationship with God. Glorifying God and thanking Him for all our gifts will draw us ever closer to His loving embrace.
Reflection by parishioner, Dale Gerber