GIVE THANKS TO GOD!
Dear friends,
In the gospel text today we hear about how Jesus, continuing on his journey to Jerusalem, heals 10 lepers. The Ten people afflicted with leprosy cry out to Jesus. Struck with pity, Jesus heals all ten. However, only one is described as glorifying God and returning to thank Jesus. The one who returns is a Samaritan; a foreigner. In the Jewish circles in which Jesus lived, Samaritans were looked down upon because of the differences between the two communities in their observance of Judaism. It is significant, therefore, that Jesus commends the Samaritan for his faith.
The Samaritan leper ‘praising God at the top of his voice, threw himself at the feet of Jesus’. Yet still the other nine remain indifferent. What characterizes your thanksgiving to God for all he does for you? Are we indifferent to what God does for us, or do we consider the offerings and donations we give as enough to pay God for what he does, or are we more eager to present ourselves in appreciation to the favors we receive from God?
Showing gratitude to God is very important in our Christian journey with Him. However, it must not be seen as a burden. The truth is that there is no amount of money or material thing that would be enough to pay God for his goodness to us. So, the decision to show gratitude to God must flow from our hearts and from a pure conscience. Let us join the one grateful leper by always being CHARITABLE to one another.
God Bless,
Rev. Father Frank Kyazze