The generosity of God

28^th Sunday of Ordinary Time year C:

The story of the Bible is the story of God’s generosity.  God creates the entire universe out of nothing.  Without God there would be nothing.  God creates man and woman in his image, after his likeness.  Without God we would be nothing.  Adam and Eve turn away from God with the Original Sin, God continues to take care of them.  God helps the people of Israel by raising up Joseph in Egypt.  After they were enslaved in Egypt, God frees them by leading them through the Red Sea.  After the people were taken out of the land by the Babylonians, God rescues them.  In the fullness of time, God sends his Son Jesus to be our savior.  He generously gives himself up on the cross, handing over his life for us.  Next, God sends the Holy Spirit as a generous gift that gives spiritual power to the Church.  This Holy Spirit continues to be the gift for the Church as we receive this power through the grace of the Sacraments.  You and I have received the forgiveness of our sins in baptism.  We have received the gift of the Spirit in confirmation.  We receive mercy in Confession.  We receive the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.  From the start of creation to this very moment, the whole story is a story of God’s generosity.  

If we see everything through this lens of the generous God, what should be our response?

The generosity of Christ is on clear display today in the gospel.  He freely chooses to heal these men, afflicted with leprosy.  He did it out of sheer love, out of generosity.  All 10 received the amazing gift of God’s mercy.  Now, I’m sure that they were all appreciative.  I’m sure each of them were happy to get their health and their lives back.  Yet, only one converts the interior disposition of gratitude into action.  One man returns to give God thanks. 

You and I are not much different than the men in the story today.  True, you and I do not have this particular disease or affliction.  But, we have our sins, we have our weaknesses, our illnesses.  We have our troubles and temptations.  And yet, we also have received tremendous graces and blessings from our God.  I’m sure that if I asked everyone here in Church: are you appreciative of all that God has given you?  I’m sure we would all say yes.  But, does that sense of thanksgiving actually change our lives?  Does it change the way we live?  Does it change our actions?

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I try to practice 5 minutes of gratitude every morning.  I think of three things I’m thankful for.  Then I think of three things that would make today great.  This practice only takes 5 minutes, but it makes a tremendous difference on my day.  It’s one thing to be appreciative of God’s blessings.  But, the Samaritan in the gospel reminds us that thanksgiving should also affect our lives and our actions.

Thanksgiving is not only central to our lives, it’s at the very heart of the Mass.  In fact, the word Eucharist means “thanksgiving.”  What do we say in the preface: it is truly right and just to give you thanks.  This mass and every mass is a chance for us to turn our appreciation for God into the very act of worship.  The mass is not only a great gift for which we should be thankful.  It’s actually the worship where we give God thanks for all his many blessings.  

So, as we celebrate this mass, let’s take on the attitude of the Samaritan from the gospel.  Let’s be thankful to the generous God who has given us everything.  But, let’s also seek to make this thanksgiving more than just our attitude.  Rather, it should affect our lives and our actions as well.