Reflection for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

/ From the Pastor / By

In today’s Gospel we see Jesus who is compassionate, Loving God. He forgives, and He cures. But we can see that this loving and compassionate God wants our gratitude toward Him.

When we do something good for others, deep in our hearts we look for the word “thanks”. In our society there are too many people like the ungrateful nine who were cured but did not express their thanks.

Since last Sunday’s Mass how often did we thank God? Even when we attended Mass, how often is the thought of thanks in our heart? It should be because Holy Mass is the perfect place of giving thanks for God’s blessings in our lives.

The very word Eucharist, another word for Mass, means THANSKIVING. The first purpose of sacrifice is to give glory to God. Praise is giving thanks.

The grateful leper returned to Christ who had healed him, was “praising God with a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus, giving Him Thanks.” That is exactly what we do in every Holy Mass.

I do not know if you noticed how often during the Holy Mass we use the word “THANKS”.

  • In the GLORIA: “we give you thanks… for your glory.”
  • Often the opening prayer includes a word of thanks for the feast or mystery we are celebrating.
  • The Preface begins: “Father, all powerful and everlasting God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
  • Right before the consecration the priest recalls that Jesus took bread and gave thanks to His heavenly Father.
  • We thank God through mouth of the Priest for counting us worthy to stand in the presence of God.
  • When we receive Holy Communion We should praise and adore Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, All of us should be like the man in the Gospel – ready to come back again and again to Jesus, to give thanks.

We can not take example of those nine lepers, that once their prayers were answered, they went away from Jesus, and never came back.

We have to take the example of that one leper, who made the effort to come back and gave praise and thanks to God.

My friends we have easier way to do. We do not have walk long distance to Jesus. He is here in this Tabernacle, on this Altar during every Mass. He awaits us every day. Let’s come as often as we can to give Him thanks and praise.

May God bless you and Mary always keep you in her prayers.

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