Have you ever had the experience of having done something for someone and then not received a word of thanks? That can rankle us, can’t it?

 

We might feel conflicted. Faith and spiritual reflection tells us that God sees all things, big and small. If we even give a cup of cold water to one of His disciples, we will surely have our reward from Him. (Mt 10:42). In other words, when even in small matters we do the right thing to another for the sake of Jesus, we should not worry about thanks or applause or acknowledgment in this life. We are building our inheritance in the Kingdom to come.

 

At the same time, in an absence of thanks we are left with a feeling that something is incomplete. A word or gesture of thanks is not simply to honor any good thing that we have done. It somehow is a natural reaction from one who has received. It brings politeness and an appropriate recognition of a goodness that has taken place. Isn’t this why we teach our children from the earliest stages to say please and especially thank you?

 

And there is the most famous such incident in history. It is the story of Jesus curing the 10 lepers.

 

As we know from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus heard their cry for healing. But he did not heal them on the spot. He sent them on their way to show themselves to the priest as required by the Mosaic Law. It therefore took faith for them to overcome the temptation to doubt that Jesus hadn’t simply dismissed them without the cures they had heard He had done for others. Still, off they went.

 

On the way they recognized that they had in fact been cured. But the Gospel records that only one, the Samaritan, returned to Jesus. He not only offered a word of thanks, but the Gospel tells us that he fell at the feet of Jesus in a gesture of faith linked to his gratitude.

 

Jesus seems to share our own human sense that something is lacking, however. He even asks, “Where are the other nine?” (Lk 17:17).

 

This coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It has often been noted that this is a civil and not a religious celebration. Still, how appropriate it is that we join this appropriate cultural reflection to our own life of faith.

 

The very nature of Thanksgiving challenges our increasingly secular society. It makes us ask who is being thanked and for what? By its nature, we are not thanking each other. The first Thanksgiving was to offer gratitude for God’s protection for the gift of life, for the furnishing of the needs of the community and for a new start that included the freedom of religion. We should use this day to thank the Lord for the blessings we too often take for granted.

 

In faith, we recognize our total dependence upon God. Even our every breath is His gift. Our worldly surroundings draw us to focus on God’s earthly blessings. We should be grateful for our health, for our family, and for our daily bread.

 

But even more, we should be grateful for the gift of life. God has offered us the chance to be with Him in heaven in fulfillment of our nature and our every hope and desire. He has given us the Catholic faith that He has established and the sacraments to strengthen us on the way.

 

How good it is for us to deepen our sense of thanks this year. Please, make a point of going to Mass on Thanksgiving Day with the family. Thank God for the gift of your faith. Be sure also to assist those less fortunate in some way during this week.

 

As we join that one Samaritan in faith and gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving to all!