Thank Him

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100916.cfm) reminds me that I should always thank God, especially after my prayers have been answered. 

They say that “desperate times call for desperate measures.” And in times of desperate needs, we would be ready to do anything to get through. We do whatever we can in our human capacity to get by. We pray hard to God, and even make promises and bargain with him. “Lord, just help me with this, I will stop smoking,  or I will give up by vices”.  Or “Lord, if I get through this, I promise to hear mass everyday” These are some things we tend to say and do in times of desperate need. However, when situations change, when prayers are answered, when we got by already, our attitude seem to change as well. “Lord, it’s hard to give it up, I’ll just lessen it, okay?” or “Lord, can I just hear mass twice a week, I can’t seem to do it everyday?”

This is similar to how the ten lepers acted. They were all healed when they asked pity from Jesus.

Although they did not say they will go back to Jesus or be good people if they get healed, only one of them came back to Jesus to thank Him. only one of them remembered and made the effort to thank Jesus for hearing and answering their prayer – and this one is a foreigner, similar to the good Samaritan.

Hindi dapat makalimot sa Diyos.

Why did the other nine not go back? Probably they were too excited with their healing that they forgot who healed them. Probably they did not acknowledge it was Jesus who healed them. Or probably they had a sense of entitlement that Jesus should heal them, because they were his own, unlike the foreigner who came back and thanked him. 

What’s important to note is what Jesus told the man – “Your faith has saved you.”Yes, they were all cleaned. Not thanking Jesus will not cause the other nine to be lepers again. however, only one was saved, because only one acknowledged Jesus. only one had faith that it was Jesus who saved him, and only one genuinely experienced God in his life – and will therefore be inspired to live the remaining days of his life for Christ.

May we never forget to thank God for answered prayers, and always acknowledge him as God in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day. Thank you for another Sunday! Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I act like the other nine. Sorry for forgetting you when my prayers have been answered. Sorry for not thanking you. Sorry for feeling entitled to blessings. Lord I pray that I be like the one leper who came back to you and remembered you. when my prayers get answered, may I not forget you and thank you. and as I continuously experience your love, I pray that I may always live my life for you. Transform me and make me like you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/02/obedience.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/03/patient.html

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October 9, 2016
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 144

Reading 1 2 Kgs 5:14-17

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of Elisha, the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.
On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
“Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,
except in Israel.
Please accept a gift from your servant.”

Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;”
and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused.
Naaman said: “If you will not accept,
please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,
for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice
to any other god except to the LORD.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands:
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Reading 2 2 Tm 2:8-13

Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.

Alleluia 1 Thess 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;

your faith has saved you.”