Our Need for Gratitude

By TOM DENNEHY

Looking at our world today we see an increasing amount of turmoil and unrest. Many countries are being torn apart by war where people are living in fear and uncertainty. We should be very grateful to live in a peaceful country but we often complain, criticise and find fault. We no longer make a genuine effort to count our blessings.

Expressing gratitude to God has unfortunately become a thing of the past. Attendance at Mass has declined and this is a clear indication of ingratitude to God and to one another.

It is against this background that the Gospel of Luke 17;11-19 draws our attention to God for favours received. After healing ten lepers, only one returned to give thanks. Jesus Christ was challenged to ask, “Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?”

As followers of Jesus Christ a favour received should elicit praise and thanksgiving in us. We are urged to move beyond the signs of our material benefits and embrace the spiritual benefits of the favour we received. This is exactly the message of the Gospel according to Luke. We should make saying thank you a habit for God blesses us every day. He cares for us, guides us and protects us. Above all He loves us with an unconditional and everlasting love. A love away and beyond our understanding. Our Church belongs to Jesus Christ and He has never offended anybody or judged or condemned anybody. He is the epitome of Love and Mercy. Why can’t we say thanks to Him? Our Holy Mass- A Thanksgiving. Our Holy Mass is called a Eucharistic Celebration, a thanksgiving. When we go to Mass we are showing our gratitude to God. We thank Him for favours received and for the blessings He has bestowed on us. It is very important for us to be grateful to God and to one another. It is important to attend Mass as frequently as possible. We are so privileged to have this opportunity to be present at Calvary when Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to His Father in atonement for our sins. We join with Him, with our offering of the bread and wine which is transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

This is the living bread which Jesus speaks about that gives us divine life in our souls. This divine life in our souls help us in our daily life and will be our greatest joy when we die and come before the throne of God.

How do we respond to what Jesus has done for us by His death on the cross? How do we open our hearts to receive Him and the graces he is pouring out to us? -- By growing in our gratitude to Him.

1. Gratitude glorifies God and helps us realise all we have comes from Him.

2. Gratitude helps us see God as it opens our spiritual eyes. The more we thank Him, the more we see Him working in us and around us.

3. Gratitude helps us to do God’s will and part of His will for us is to be thankful, not just on the sunny days but on the difficult ones as well. “Give thanks in all circumstance; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5;18.

4. Gratitude brings Peace. Count your blessings. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4;6-7.

5. Gratitude brings Contentment. If we are not grateful for what God has given us, getting more won’t satisfy us either. Being thankful is the key to contentment.

6. Gratitude deepens Faith. Keeping a record of God’s past faithfulness is a faith boost. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures for ever. Psalm 136;1.

8. Gratitude leads to Joy. The overflow of gratitude is joy. Realizing God’s abundant goodness, even in the hard times, is a gateway for joy.

9. Gratitude guards against Envy. Envy makes us want what someone else has. Gratitude makes us realise God has given us far more than we deserve.

So let us give thanks and glory to God for the wonderful world He has created, the beauty of nature, our health, the gift of life, our talents and abilities. Let us change our lives by counting our blessings each day and we will be amazed at the changes it will bring about.