First Reading: Ws 6:1-11; Psalm: 82. R. v. 8a; Gospel: Lk 17:11-19

GRATITUDE

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

When we are going through some challenges in life, there is often that natural inclination to seek help from other people apart from us. At this point, our attention is mostly turned towards people who could save our situation or bail us out of trouble. But when our challenges are lifted and things begin to go smoothly again; we can easily be carried away by the moment that we forget where we are coming from. The good feeling of pleasant living often blankets our unpleasant pasts.

This tendency is a common experience in life. We see it play out in the gospel narrative of the ten lepers. These lepers sought for help from Jesus. But when they received their healing, they were carried away by the ecstasy of the moment. But one of them was different. ‘When he saw that he was healed, he turned back, praising God with a loud voice.’ (Lk 17:15). What really happened? Why was this man different from the other nine? Although all ten of them were commanded to go and show themselves to the priest; but there are certain things that common sense should tell us. Gratitude is one of them. This one leper who returned was conscious of this. He was consciousness that something new and good just happened; and that it was not by accident but by divine intervention.

Ingratitude is simply ‘not to remember.’ Not to recall the good things that happened to us and how it happened. It is focusing on ourselves without raising our heads to see where our help came from. We need to start realising that something good just happened. We just woke up from sleep. We just ate some food. We just survived the day. We just saw another night. It is said that if we don’t know the power we have; we can’t use it. In the same vein, if we can’t see the good things we enjoy or presently have; we cannot be grateful for them. Learn consciousness of the blessings of life; it inspires gratitude

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, help us to be conscious of your blessings everyday of our lives. Amen.