Give Thanks

   

  Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 October 2022 

 

First Reading: 2 Kgs 5:14-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Second Reading: 2 Tm 2:8-13

Gospel: Lk 17:11-19

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo-Manio

 

As the saying goes, there is always, and always, and always, something to be thankful for. No matter how bad our day has been, only when silence becomes intentional, when we look deeper, feel deeper, and think deeper, then we realize that we are still blessed. The Jesuits call this practice, “examen”, typically done on a daily basis, a moral evaluation and reflection of our thoughts and actions. It leads us and can already be part of our prayer. This Sunday we are invited to look deeper into ourselves, our relationships, our life, and appreciate all the graces we are receiving. Appreciation leads to gratitude. Gratitude leads to happiness. All the grateful people I met are happy people. 

The Gospel is about the ten lepers Jesus healed and only one came back to express thanksgiving. We may be like the ten lepers, desperately and sincerely we ask God for something we want, may it be healing, financial abundance, provision of something, or even forgiveness. We spend so much effort in praying during these moments, completing novena masses, asking for blessings of the Holy water, and regularly we pray. As a student way back then, I usually attended the Thursday novena masses in St. Jude. I am amazed by how the Church and even the parking area is filled with students especially before board or bar examinations. In silence also, I wonder how many will come back when they receive the results of the examination, regardless if they pass or not. Will they be thankful? Will they still hold on to their faith if they didn’t? Will they still be hopeful? 

Let us spend some time looking into our blessings and see how God has been very faithful to us in providing us what we need at the right moment. This month, we also celebrated the International Teachers Day. Students show their appreciation to the people in school who teach them, keep them safe, encourage them, and make them feel loved. Let us look at our great teacher and our perfect teacher, Jesus. He spent all His life teaching us how to live a good life. Let us continue learning, practice His teachings, and feel that we are all loved by a merciful and loving God, and that I think is already enough to be happy and to pay it forward.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You so much for teaching us how to love and showing us the secret to happiness. Thank you for this life, for the people who care for us, for all the provisions, no matter how little it is. There is always something that inspires us to continue and be a blessing to others. May we always be that one healed leper who sought you just to give thanks. Amen.