28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr. C
2 Kings 5:14-17 / 2 Tim 2:8-13 / Luke 17:11-19
In today’s first reading, the story of Naaman the leper is a typical example of how we should express our profound gratitude to God. Naaman also teaches us how to show appreciation to those who have been good to us. Also, we learn from this reading that God does not come to our help because of what he will receive from us. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us of the importance of gratitude to God for favors we have received from Him. In this reading, what caught the admiration of Jesus about the Samaritan was that he “Turned back, praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” When was the last time we expressed this kind of gratitude to God? Gratitude to God is an expression of our faith in His saving power.
Both Naaman and the grateful Samaritan show that genuine gratitude flows from a heart attuned to the presence and action of God’s spirit – faith-filled hearts, appreciative of the gifts they have received from God and others. Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us truly grateful, as was the case with Naaman and the Samaritan. When things are going well, we can easily take our blessings for granted. Looking back on my own life, I must admit for many years I took for granted all I had received from others, especially from my Mum and Dad. Only later, when I had more experience of life, did I come to realize and appreciate the sacrifices they made for me and to be truly grateful. Gratitude is much more than saying thanks, though that is important. It is acting out our awareness of being blessed by the way we live.
The 2nd reading tells us that though we may be unfaithful, God is always faithful.
We may procrastinate in giving thanks, but God will still be quick to answer our urgent prayers.
But let us remember that when we begin our prayer with thanksgiving, the doors of God’s blessings are already opened to our prayers of petitions.
Fr. Alex Osei
SSC-USA Spiritual Director