Thank You Sunday

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
14 October 2007


First reading: 2 Kings 5:14 - 17
Naaman went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh of a little child.
Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and stood before him. ‘Now I know’ he said ‘that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Now, please, accept a present from your servant.’ But Elisha replied, ‘As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing’. Naaman pressed him to accept, but he refused. Then Naaman said, ‘Since your answer is “No”, allow your servant to be given as much earth as two mules may carry, because your servant will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any god except the Lord.’

Second reading: 2 Timothy 2:8 - 13
Remember the Good News that I carry, ‘Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David’; it is on account of this that I have my own hardships to bear, even to being chained like a criminal – but they cannot chain up God’s news. So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.
Here is a saying that you rely on:
If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
If we disown him, then he will disown us.
We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful,
for he cannot disown his own self.

Gospel: Luke 17:11 - 19
Now on the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’. Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

Reflection
By Elizabeth R Eguia

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks.”

What will you feel if someone appreciates the gift you gave or probably the assistance or help that you have extended to him/her? You will definitely feel happy and elated! How much more if that person said “Thank You” and you know that he meant what he said? Aren’t we going to be more jubilant?

The same goes with God. He will be truly happy if we can show appreciation for the blessings he has given us. Saying “Thank you” means a lot to Him. He is not even asking anything from us. But we, as his children should have the conscious effort to show our gratitude to Him.

In the Gospel today, Jesus healed 10 lepers but only one looked for Him and gave thanks.

Ten outcasts who don’t have anyone to turn to in their condition. Ten individuals who almost lost their dignity because no one dared to help them in any way. But here comes Jesus, who never questioned nor looked at them differently, but still healed them. These individuals are desperate and they knew only a miracle could heal them. And when they heard about Jesus, they immediately ran after Him and asked to be cured.

We ourselves experience difficult situations. Most of the times we don’t know what to do. Others are even left alone with no one to help them. For some it takes months or years before they recover in their situations. And the only thing left is our trust and faith in God that He will help us and save us from our hopeless situation.

Dear Lord, we praise and thank you for all the things you have done for us. Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for this day. Thank you that we are alive now praising and glorifying Your name. Thank you for the message you have imparted on us today. Help us to realize always that You are here for us, ever ready to help us in all our needs. Increase our faith in you that we may not easily loose hope when trials come our way. We know we can overcome everything through Your grace. We lift up all our concerns to You, all our worries and useless anxieties. We believe we will surpass this for the glory of Your name. Amen.