Thank you for being a friend…when these lyrics came on our TV it was time for another episode of the Golden Girls. Now I must admit, I never watched the Golden Girls; until recently. Now that Betty White is being introduced to the younger generation; it’s all good to admit you watch the Golden Girls. And quite frankly the lyrics are pretty good; expressing thanks over and over again for the gift of friendship.
We all love to hear thank-you. And we love to express our thanks too. Thanksgiving is one of our all-time favorite holidays. Many families have a tradition before eating the Thanksgiving meal of going around the table and saying something they are thankful for.
As people of faith, what are we thankful for? Do we express our thanks to God in word and deed? Is our attitude of faith an attitude of gratitude?
Continuing in the 17th chapter of St. Luke we find Jesus being approached by ten lepers. Whether or not the ten had leprosy, as we understand it today, it is evident that they are suffering from a hideous disease of the skin. Because of their condition, the law prevented them from approaching or mingling with the crowds; with healthy people. By law and by social interaction, they were separated, they were outcasts. Yet the ten found the courage to approach Jesus, to stand at a distance perhaps, but approach Jesus and cry for help. Have pity on us, they cry, as they acknowledge Jesus as “master”. Despite their disease, despite their separation, the ten recognized something amazing, something special about Jesus. And even more amazing, the ten, ostracized by the masses, were united in suffering despite one among them being a Samaritan. Why is this significant? The answer is simple; Jews and Samaritans really didn’t like each other! The differences are real: cultural, religious and racial. Yet the ten learned to coexist; their infirmity was enough to unite them despite these important differences.
And Jesus indeed heals them. He further instructs them to go and show themselves to the priests. In that time and culture, to be legally cured of leprosy or diseases of the skin you needed both the cure and the declaration of a priest that you are clean. So they did what Jesus instructed them to do. But this Gospel is more than just a lesson in healing as we discover when the Samaritan alone comes back to Jesus and says thank-you. Of the ten, it is the most unlikely, by human standards, that returns and gives thanks. What is being taught here? Is it just a reminder to give thanks to God for his gifts and blessings or is it also a reminder that all, including the least among us, can receive God’s gifts? The answer is yes, all of the above!
What does this Gospel message mean for us today? How are we called to respond to this passage? We are called to respond to God with an attitude of gratitude. There are simple things we can do; give thanks every morning before we start our day or give thanks before we go to bed for the day just completed. Do we give thanks before meals? Is the age old practice of grace before meals something we have allowed to fall into disuse?
Sometimes we can give thanks to God by responding generously to the needs of His Church. Today we are having our parish ministry fair. God is inviting us today to give thanks by using our time and talent in service to others through His local Church here at home. Come to the ministry fair before returning home. The Saints are even cooperating by playing much later today.
Giving thanks is so important. Thanks for being a friend; indeed great lyrics and a great sentiment. But may we always give thanks to God; thanks for the gift of faith; the faith that saves us. The very last words we utter as the liturgy ends is “thanks be to God”. Let those four words be our prayer on our lips this week; Thanks be to God!
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