Daily Retreat 11/15/06
2006 Nov 15 Wed: Ordinary Weekday/ Albert the Great, bp, r, dr
Ti 3: 1-7/ Ps 22(23): 1b-3a. 3bc-4. 5. 6/ Lk 17: 11-19
From today’s readings: “But when the kindness and generous love of God our Savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of His mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.... The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.... Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? ”
Warming up Thanksgiving
Logically enough, today’s Gospel passage, the healing of the ten lepers, is one of the optional readings for Thanksgiving Day. No doubt, all of us can remember receiving particular gifts that were so overwhelmingly wonderful that we forgot, at least initially, to express our thanks and gratitude.
But even if we can’t ever recall ourselves being neglectful in offering gratitude to human gift givers, it certainly is true that none of us have perfect records when it comes to showing appreciation to the Divine Gift Giver. Note that only one of the ten lepers returned to Jesus giving thanks - no surprise, really, for probably precious few of us even regularly remember to thank God for 1 out of 10 blessings He showers upon us!
But that’s a thankless situation that’s easy enough to remedy! There’s nothing to prevent us from being like that Samaritan leper, who “returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him....”
First, get in the habit of thanking God immediately for particular blessings received throughout the day - all that’s needed is a simple sincere prayer: “Thank you God!” That’s something that certainly would be simple enough to do at least at every meal, wouldn’t it? Then, at the end of your day, when making an examination of conscience, mention your gratitude again to God for all the various joys and profound moments of the day that you can call to mind. Finally, as part of the offertory at the Sunday Eucharist, prayerfully thank God in His holy house for the whole houseful of blessings received in the past week!
Ti 3: 1-7/ Ps 22(23): 1b-3a. 3bc-4. 5. 6/ Lk 17: 11-19
From today’s readings: “But when the kindness and generous love of God our Savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of His mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.... The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.... Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? ”
Warming up Thanksgiving
Logically enough, today’s Gospel passage, the healing of the ten lepers, is one of the optional readings for Thanksgiving Day. No doubt, all of us can remember receiving particular gifts that were so overwhelmingly wonderful that we forgot, at least initially, to express our thanks and gratitude.
But even if we can’t ever recall ourselves being neglectful in offering gratitude to human gift givers, it certainly is true that none of us have perfect records when it comes to showing appreciation to the Divine Gift Giver. Note that only one of the ten lepers returned to Jesus giving thanks - no surprise, really, for probably precious few of us even regularly remember to thank God for 1 out of 10 blessings He showers upon us!
But that’s a thankless situation that’s easy enough to remedy! There’s nothing to prevent us from being like that Samaritan leper, who “returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him....”
First, get in the habit of thanking God immediately for particular blessings received throughout the day - all that’s needed is a simple sincere prayer: “Thank you God!” That’s something that certainly would be simple enough to do at least at every meal, wouldn’t it? Then, at the end of your day, when making an examination of conscience, mention your gratitude again to God for all the various joys and profound moments of the day that you can call to mind. Finally, as part of the offertory at the Sunday Eucharist, prayerfully thank God in His holy house for the whole houseful of blessings received in the past week!
posted by FrPitstick | 11/13/2006
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