Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Naaman and the leper who returned to Jesus saw God’s hand in their healing. Only through God’s intervention could they have been cured. Through this recognition of God’s presence and action in their lives, they grew in faith. For what are you grateful? Pause for a moment to reflect on all of the blessings in your life. God is the source of these many blessings—life, love, gifts, and so much more. Of all the gifts for which we must be grateful, none is as great, or as astounding, as the gift of salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ. Let this sink in, not only in your mind but in your heart. Like Naaman and the leper who returned, allow yourself to be touched by the immense love of God for you.
ALL GOOD GIFTS
In the past few years, many have adopted the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. Sometimes, the journal-keeper uses a book that includes prompts that guide the user’s reflection. Others simply keep a list or write brief reflections at the end of their day or week, recognizing the many things for which they are grateful. The action of seeking out the blessings of life creates a habit of attentiveness. We see what we seek. When we look for things for which to be grateful, we realize that we are surrounded by blessings. This is not only a good practice for our emotional health and well-being. Recognizing our blessings and growing in gratitude for them is a deeply spiritual practice, through which we become attentive to God’s presence and action in our lives. Gratitude can truly be a life-changer for us. As we grow in gratitude, we view the world through the perspective of abundance rather than scarcity. Without the habit of gratitude, we take things for granted. We get caught in an endless cycle of wanting more, rather than seeing all that we have.
ONE OR ONE OF THE NINE
Naaman and the leper also grasped that their grateful faith should lead them to respond in praise and to make a change in their life. Naaman vowed to put his faith in the Lord; the leper returned, glorifying God and thanking Jesus. Not all responded in thankful praise, however. The leper who returned was one of ten. The other nine went about their merry way, happy to be healed, but failing to acknowledge or express their gratitude to the Healer. Are you one, like Naaman and the leper who returned to Jesus, whose thankfulness leads you to faith and to faith-filled living? Or are you one of the nine, who takes for granted the gifts and blessings that surround you? For what are you grateful? What is your faithful and faith-filled response?
Today’s Readings: 2 Kgs 5:14–17; Ps 98:1, 2–3, 3–4; 2 Tm 2:8–13; Lk 17:11–19