GRATITUDE: THE PUREST FORM OF WORSHIP
Gratitude or an act of thanksgiving seems like something very insignificant. However, it is the purest form of worship of God. It is the most important way of expression that sustain our human relationships as well as our relationship with God.
We must not only appreciate people when we need something from them but also after receiving it from them. Gratitude or appreciation has many faces: acts, gestures, words, things and even thoughts.
THE HOMILY STORY OF GRATITUDE
Once, there was this little girl who was going to attend a birthday party and before leaving the house, her mother told her.
MOM: Alice does not forget to appreciate the hosts before leaving the party.
ALICE: yes mom, I will.
At the party, she had a lot of nice time with her friends, since there was so much to enjoy: food, drinks, toys and cakes.
At the end of the party, the hosts were at the door saying goodbye to their guests and appreciating their presence at their party.
Before the little girl, two guests thanked the hosts for inviting them and also for a very good party that they enjoyed so much.
GUESTS: Thanks so much for the invitation and we did enjoy ourselves.
HOSTS: Do not mention, we are glad you came and had fun.
So when the little girl’s turn came, she passed the hosts without thanking them, but only bid them farewell. Upon arriving home, her mother asked if she remembered to thank the hosts.
MOM: Alice did you say thank you to your hosts?
ALICE: No mom.
MOM: why. I did tell you, it is a good manner to say thank you.
ALICE: I wanted to mom, but the two guests before me said thanked them and the hosts responded: “do not mention”, so I didn’t feel the need to thank them any longer since their response was going to be the same.
This is the attitude of many of us today toward God and the people who help us in life.
OUR THEME
Today, our readings directly or indirectly touch on the theme of gratitude or thanksgiving, especially to God who has done so much for us. It appears that the culture of giving thanks for favours received is gradually giving way to the culture of indifference and ingratitude.
The spirit of gratitude seems to be something very insignificant or small, but matters much and is very important in our relationship with God and one another.
FIRST READING: 2KINGS 5:14-17
In the first reading, II Kgs 5:14-17, Naaman, the Syrian leper and a foreigner after being cured of his leprosy returned to acknowledge the God of Israel and offered some material gifts to the man of God: Prophet Elisha. Though, the prophet turned down his gifts. Why?
In this biblical passage, we have an exciting story of God healing an outsider Naaman, after mumbling and mental rejection of the Lord’s command. He returns with numerous gifts that neither the Lord nor his prophet needed. A token of appreciation and the acknowledgement of the Lord’s supremacy, mercy and grace in all ages.
For God, true worship of him with mind, heart and voice full of praise is much better than thousands of offerings.
SECOND READING: 2 TIMOTHY 2:8-13
St. Paul in his Second Letter to Timothy 2:8-13 teaches us the best way to show gratitude for what God did for us in Christ Jesus. The spirit of self-giving or donation in commitment to God faithfully.
While St. Paul advises Timothy to be grateful to God even in his physical sufferings and amid the dangers associated with spreading the Word of God because God will always be faithful to His people.
THE GOSPEL: LUKE 17:11-19
Similarly, in the gospel of Luke 17:11-19, Jesus cured ten lepers and only one, a Samaritan leper and foreigner returned with heart, mind and voice full of gratitude to God.
This brought out the theme of appreciation and gratitude after a favour, it is a natural, human and divine gesture to be grateful for who we are. What we have and what we have received in life. Thanksgiving, praise, and adoration are the purest ways to worship the Lord.
The important questions for us all today are: what is our grateful response to God´s doings in our lives? Or are we more materialistic or spiritual in our gratitude response?
1. Our gratitude can be spiritual acts like praising God with a heart and voice full of thanksgiving like the Samaritan in the gospel.
2. It is the act of worshipping and praying at family prayer both morning and evening, grace before and after each meal etc.
3. It could also be in good actions like going to church on Sunday or assisting in the sacrifice of the Eucharist.
4. Gratitude could also be in the form of services we render to others in need like visiting hospitals, prisons or orphanages etc.
5. It could be kind to God, his church or priest or pastor or good course or the needy materially like Naaman did with Prophet Elisha.
THE LESSON OF LIFE
However, one wonders if God is more interested in material gifts or the worship of him from a heart full of praises and adorations. In the first reading, Elisha’s rejection of Naaman’s material gifts implies that God, the owner and giver of all things is not so much interested in our material gifts as tokens of gratitude. God is more interested in a spiritual gratitude response like the Samaritan leper did in the Gospel.
It appears Naaman was more interested in rewarding the prophet for his role in his healing than in thanking God for the healing.
The best gratitude response should be the firm decision to follow Jesus and avoid returning to the dungeon of sin rather than mere ceremonial thanksgiving. Ceremonial thanksgiving is good but a sincere commitment to follow Christ which St. Paul tells us in the second reading (2 Timothy 2:18-13) is always faithful even when we are unfaithful is better.
Conclusively, we ask ourselves as priests or pastors and God´s people which act of thanksgiving is most appreciated by God. Can a priest or pastor accept the thanksgiving of praise and worship of God without material gifts or money? Can we thank God for his doing through a pastor or priest without directing God´s glory to his chosen instrument through whom we receive divine favours?
How often God is disappointed in our ungrateful attitude like a spoiled child, taking his goodness for granted and very indifferent to his generosity, love, mercy, grace and the many gifts of life. Often, we are not grateful for shelter, clothing, weather, freedom, studies, work, family, health, food, water, healing, friends, and faith. Let us ask God to forgive our past ingratitude for many gifts of life and to help us to reach out in love to those who are poor or in need of God’s healing and mercy.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, the Fourth Common Preface to the Eucharistic prayer invites us to a humble admittance: “Lord, You have no need of our praise, yet our desire to thank you is itself your gift. Our prayer of thanksgiving adds nothing to your greatness but makes us grow in your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord”. May we always and everywhere see it as a just and necessary duty to give you thanks, praises and adorations in all conditions and circumstances of our lives. Amen
