The Tenth Leper
11/27/08 07:31 Filed in: Gratitude
An attitude of gratitude also makes us mindful of the temporal needs of others. It leads us to share sacrificially from our many gifts so that others may enjoy the blessing of adequate food, clothing and shelter.
“And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.” (Luke 17: 11-19)
The newspaper boy just delivered our Thanksgiving Day paper with a resounding thunk. It weighs four pounds, most of it brochures, leaflets and flyers for holiday sales. Page after colorful page of advertising illustrates the great abundance of America’s blessings.
As a nation, we set aside one day a year to pause and give thanks for all the many blessings we have received. But, in truth, every day should be Thanksgiving.
That’s why I like the way a local supermarket approaches the holiday season. They place shopping bags with food for the needy at the end of each checkout counter. After purchasing your groceries, you can buy the extra bag and deposit it in a large receptacle as you exit the store.
I appreciate being reminded to share in this way because, when you think about it, thanksgiving ends with the word “giving.” We best express our gratitude when we give back some of our blessings (in this case, as soon as you leave the store).
Today’s Gospel story about the grateful leper makes two important points about thanksgiving:
1. First, as the leper showed, thankfulness often involves sacrifice. He went out of his way to return to Jesus’ side. In so doing, he gave of his time, the most precious gift of all. Rich or poor, each of us receives exactly 1,440 minutes to spend every day. Once it’s spent it’s gone for good. It can’t be replaced. We can spend our time on ourselves or we can share some of our day with others. We can make every day Thanksgiving.
It costs nothing to give someone else a smile, offer encouragement, share a quiet moment, listen with your heart or pray together. But, first, you must be willing to give of your time.
An attitude of gratitude also makes us mindful of the temporal needs of others. It leads us to share sacrificially from our many gifts so that others may enjoy the blessing of adequate food, clothing and shelter.
2. Second, thanksgiving is a form of worship and a sign of our faith. The grateful leper returned “glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” When we give back some of our blessings, we glorify God by showing all we have belongs to the Almighty. We are merely his faithful stewards. Giving in this way is a sign of our faith in God’s loving providence. It frees us from the hunger for more. And it acknowledges that God is found among the poorest of the poor. They, too, have been promised the greatest gift of all – salvation.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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