Search
From the Pastor's Desk: October, 9 2022
-
From the Pastor’s Desk: October 9, 2022
We continue our journey with the Gospel of Luke from Galilee to Jerusalem. The journey meant to teach Jesus’ disciples and to teach us today about how to live in the Kingdom of God. Thus far we have learned many lessons of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Today’s lesson is on the beauty of gratitude.
To emphasize the point, Luke shares a story of Jesus and His disciples who traveled through Samaria and came across ten men inflicted by leprosy. “As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. He was a Samaritan.” The one leper who came back to thank Jesus is praised for this gratitude. There is almost a sense of sadness in the voice of Jesus, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?”
Why does Christ value gratitude so much? Because gratitude is valuable - it's valuable for us, for the health of our souls. In the first place, gratitude keeps us grounded in the truth, which is key for our ongoing relationship with God…a relationship that keeps us aware that everything we have is a gift from God: creation, life, talents, opportunities, hope in heaven, the grace that helps us persevere in doing what is right - these are all God's gifts. So, we are reminded to be grateful for all aspects of our faith - for our lives and the gift of faith, our families, the sacraments we have received, our faith community, for challenges that we experience in our daily lives. Perhaps we could continue to enumerate so many blessings for which we are grateful.
We are grateful because gratitude is the perfect antidote to sin. Sin turns us in on ourselves, like an ingrown toenail; gratitude opens us up to God and neighbor. It directly contradicts self-centeredness, self-indulgence, and self-absorption. It builds bridges, unites communities, and softens hearts. Gratitude is one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden of virtue - what a pity that it's so rare!
Next Sunday, October 16, 2022 at the 11:00 am Mass, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Luke – the Saint Patron of our Parish. Please come and join us and Bishop Erik Pohlmeier who will visit our parish for the first time - in the wonderful celebration as we will express our gratitude for another year of our faithful service to our parish and will ask the intercession of St. Luke for the upcoming year. On Saturday, October 15th after the 6:00 pm Mass, the Pastor’s Advisory Team invites all parishioners to the St. Luke Annual Parish Picnic. Please come and share in the spirit of joy, gratitude and fellowship with one another.
As we continue on our journey of life and faith, let us take advantage of the opportunity we learn today. Sometimes we can miss the little gifts that God and others want to give us. But part of receiving the gifts of God with gratitude means recognizing and appreciating the little things – write a thank-you note to your spouse, parents, sibling, coworker or a friend expressing your gratitude for them. Gratitude makes us more like God and opens our hearts to a deeper relationship with Him. It’s something we won’t regret.
“There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to life; one is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to our lives. If we do not live as we think, we soon begin to think as we live. The method of adjusting moral principles to the way men live is just a perversion of the order or things.” -The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen.
I wish you all a blessed week!
With prayers, Fr. Andy
