Gratitude! Gratitude!! Gratitude!!! (HOMILY FOR THE 28TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Homily for the 28th Sunday in the ordinary time, year C

Theme: Gratitude! Gratitude!! Gratitude!!!

2 kings 5:14-17

2 Timothy 2:8-13

Luke 17:11-19

Central to the liturgy of the word today is the theme of gratitude or thankfulness. 

The sage will tell us that "gratitude is the healthiest of all emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for". It is the healthiest of all emotions because it is "an antidote for negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry and irritation. "It is savouring, it is not taking things for granted; it is present-oriented". This why feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like having a present and not giving it. Hence, it liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.

The first reading of today tells us that the prophet Elisha cured Naaman, commander of the Syrian army and a Gentile, of his leprosy and he was grateful for it. In his gratitude, he offered gifts to the prophet. However, the prophet Elisha did not accept it because it would suggest that the cure was due to him rather than to God. We are told that acknowledging his cure as coming from Yahweh, Naaman beagan to worship the God of Israel (2kings 5:17). 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, a grateful heart they say is a magnet for miracles. It is a gift that unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity, a meal into a feast, a stranger into a friend. 

When Naaman, commander of the Syrian army and a Gentile received the blessing of healing from God, his life changed. In his gratitude, one who used to be a stranger to the religion of the Israelites began to worship and adore the God of Israel. The compassion of God upon him evoked a total transformation and change in the life of Naaman a Gentile. 

Friends in Christ, how grateful are you in life? The blessings you receive day-after-day from God, do they stimulate in you an attitude of gratitude? The wise recommends to us that when life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. when it is bitter, say thank you and grow. 

The story of Naaman in the first reading prepares us for the Gospel account of the cure of ten lepers by Jesus, and how only one of them, a foreigner (a Samaritan) came back to thank him. 

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus's feet, and thanked him" (LK 17:15-16).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, "Thankfulness, they say is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfullness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts". 

The man in the Gospel could not conceal and constrain the joy and gratitude within himself. He needed to pour it out to Jesus and for all to see and hear in a loud and appreciative manner. Hence, he praised God in a loud voice, he prostrated before Jesus. It is obvious that his joy and gratitude was expressive of the truth that God indeed dwells among men (2Cor 6:16) and his mercy endureth forever (Ps 136:1).

However, Jesus did not feign indifference to the ingratitude shown by the other nine. He said: "were not ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (LK 17:17-18).

Unfortunately, beloved in Christ, many atimes like these nine ungrateful persons, we take for granted God's gift as if we have a natural rights to them. We consider them simply as birth rights without any allusion to the giver himself. More so, we complain profusely if we do not receive them completely as if we paid for them or had a contract with God on the provisions. 

Painful as it may seem, we sometimes only express gratitude to God when 'extraordinary things' happen in our lives but on matters of the ordinary we think they are things within our full control and power. Hence, we keep to ourselves. For instance, if we survive a gahstly motor accident, we say it worths giving thanks to God. But when we sleep ordinarily at night and wake up in the morning we commonize it as one of those things within our strength and vigour.

How do we feel friends in Christ, if a father one day buys a toy for his child. The child is overwhelmed with Joy and gratitude towards the father on that day. However, this same child eats daily from the hardwork of the father but does not appreciate. He feels it is his right and so disregards the appreciation meant for the father. How do we see that? Even if we say, well he is simply a child. Can an adult be excused as well in this context in his/her relationship with God his creator?

In our respective parishes, can we say that the relationship between the priests and their parishioners are that of grateful hearts? How much appreciation do we show towards our priests who labour strenuously in our respective parishes? Do we say thank you to them as they make efforts to knit the family of God in unity and peace and guide our spiritual life as well? Do the priests in return show same gratitude to the people of God? In the manner they administer the sacraments and the word of God? The family of God must be a home of reciprocal gratitude. 

Beloved friends in Christ, we are gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. The word "Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving". The essence of participating in the Eucharist is to thank the Lord for creating us, for sustaining us in life with his blessings, for his forgiveness upon us and his precious gift of salvation, Christ Jesus given to us.

Following the rubrics of the mass. 

The Priest says: "lift up your hearts", 

we respond: "we lift them up to the Lord"

The priest says: "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

We respond: "It is right to give him thanks and praise. 

The priest continues with the preface: "Father all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and every where to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord...".

Dearest people of God, do you understand now the meaning of the Eucharist? Can you verily say that your participation in the Eucharist has been an attitude of gratitude? Is this grateful heart of yours manifest in your attitude and deed? Can you then say after the Eucharistuc celebration, you have become a Eucharistic person?

Children of God, let us remember that ingratitude is the worst of vices and a treason to mankind. it is a crime more despicable than revenge, which is only returnung evil for evil, while ingratitude returns evil for good. We must expunge the vice of ingratitude from our lives and become men and women of thankfulness.

Let us become men and women of grateful hearts. Let our gratitude be expressed not just in words but in deeds like Naaman in the first reading and the foreigner in the Gospel. Let it be an all encompassing gratitude: gratitude to God and humanity.

May the Joy of God as seen in the expression of Jesus Christ towards the foreigner envelop us as we cultivate a heart of gratitude. God bless you all 

Happy Sunday to you all

Fr Remi osj