Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 1st, 2024
In a strange, ironic twist the term "Thank You" is simultaneously one of the "most used" and "least used" terms we have. On the one hand, think about how many times you say "Thank you" on a daily basis. When you go to the store and buy something, for example, you probably say "Thank you" to the cashier or clerk. If you sneeze and if someone says "God bless you," I bet you respond "Thank you." At your job, if a coworker and/or a customer gives you something that you ask for, I am sure you respond "Thank you." I am sure that if we were to try to count how many times in a given day that we used the term "Thank you," I am pretty sure that we would be utterly amazed how often we say that specific term: "Thank you."
As an aside, I am continually amazed when I am out in the public and I do not see someone put the practice of saying "Thank you" into use. For example, have you ever gone into or perhaps come out of a store and you took the time to hold a door open for someone, and the person did not say "Thank you" or acknowledge you at all. Even in traffic, have you ever let someone ahead of you that wanted to get over into your lane. Often, the person will wave or acknowledge your kindness as a way to say "Thank you." I notice big semi truck drivers will blink their flasher lights on and off as a way to say "Thank you." What happens if someone does not "wave" or acknowledge your letting them ahead of you? If you are anything like me, you mumble to yourself sarcastically, "You're welcome!" The bottom line is we like to be thanked for what we do for people. We like for people to acknowledge what we have done for them. Whether it be a simple act of holding open a door or giving a gift to a loved one, it is only right to receive thanks for what we did.
In the Seventeenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, we hear the story of Our Blessed Lord heal a group of ten lepers. Now keep in mind that all ten men were healed but only one of them made the point to come back and properly thank God and acknowledge the healing that he had received. "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks" (St. Luke 17:11 ff) But Our Lord pointed out that while this man did give proper thanks and acknowledgment for the healing that he had received, He went on to question where were the other nine??? You see, God likes to be acknowledged as well for the blessings that He bestows on His children. Our Lord was happy to bestow blessings as we saw in today's passage with the healing of the ten lepers. But on the other hand He showed disappointment when only one out of the ten came back to given proper thanks. We should always make a point to give proper thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed on each of us. Very often, we do not take the time to thank God and acknowledge His blessings because we are too busy concentrating on what is wrong in our life.
As an aside, I am continually amazed when I am out in the public and I do not see someone put the practice of saying "Thank you" into use. For example, have you ever gone into or perhaps come out of a store and you took the time to hold a door open for someone, and the person did not say "Thank you" or acknowledge you at all. Even in traffic, have you ever let someone ahead of you that wanted to get over into your lane. Often, the person will wave or acknowledge your kindness as a way to say "Thank you." I notice big semi truck drivers will blink their flasher lights on and off as a way to say "Thank you." What happens if someone does not "wave" or acknowledge your letting them ahead of you? If you are anything like me, you mumble to yourself sarcastically, "You're welcome!" The bottom line is we like to be thanked for what we do for people. We like for people to acknowledge what we have done for them. Whether it be a simple act of holding open a door or giving a gift to a loved one, it is only right to receive thanks for what we did.
In the Seventeenth Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, we hear the story of Our Blessed Lord heal a group of ten lepers. Now keep in mind that all ten men were healed but only one of them made the point to come back and properly thank God and acknowledge the healing that he had received. "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks" (St. Luke 17:11 ff) But Our Lord pointed out that while this man did give proper thanks and acknowledgment for the healing that he had received, He went on to question where were the other nine??? You see, God likes to be acknowledged as well for the blessings that He bestows on His children. Our Lord was happy to bestow blessings as we saw in today's passage with the healing of the ten lepers. But on the other hand He showed disappointment when only one out of the ten came back to given proper thanks. We should always make a point to give proper thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed on each of us. Very often, we do not take the time to thank God and acknowledge His blessings because we are too busy concentrating on what is wrong in our life.
Please make a point to join us for Mass on Sunday. St. Margaret Church gathers together each and every Sunday at 10:30 am. We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the North
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