The Samaritan leper said "Thank You" to Jesus. In return, Jesus said more than "You're welcome." He said: "Your faith has been your salvation" (Lk 17:19). There is a thanksgiving which is much more than courtesy and kindness. Thanksgiving can be an act of faith by which we accept salvation. Thanksgiving can be a way by which we enter into God's heavenly courts (Ps 100:4). Thanksgiving can be Eucharist — the eternal thanksgiving of the Son to the Father in the Spirit, as expressed by Jesus' sacrifice of Himself on the cross.
Thanksgiving in this greatest sense of the word is supernatural. This thanks can be offered only by God's grace. Those who are most thankful supernaturally are often the very poor, the disabled, and the rejected. These people are sometimes more thankful for a crust of bread than others would be for millions of dollars and countless pleasures. Those who give this supernatural thanksgiving are often the lowly, such as Samaritans, foreigners (Lk 17:16, 18), servants (Lk 17:9), and repentant sinners (Lk 7:42).
Ask for the grace of supernatural thanksgiving. It will change your life.
| PRAYER: | Father, "I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart" (Ps 138:1). |
| PROMISE: | "Desire therefore My words; long for them and you shall be instructed." –Wis 6:11 |
| PRAISE: | St. Albert was a brilliant scientist, theologian, teacher, defender of the Faith, and a Doctor of the Church. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College