[stephenkhoo]

GIVING THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AND LOVE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 KINGS 5:14-17; 2 TIMOTHY 2:8-13;  LUKE 17:11-19http://www.universalis.com/20131013/mass.htmBoth stories of today’s scripture readings touch on leprosy.  Leprosy is not just a physical illness but it affects the core of the person, his emotions and his relationships with his loved ones.  A leper in Jesus’ time, because of the contagious nature of his illness, had to be removed from society and live in the desert, away from the people.  It was a most painful and slow way of dying.  To but alienated and cut off from our loved ones is the most unbearable experience of life.Of course, the scripture readings want us to go beyond human relationships to that of our relationship with God.  Leprosy is but a symbol of the sins of humanity.  Like leprosy, sins affect and infect us slowly.  Sins eat us up gradually, often without us being aware of it.  Because of our sins, we are cut off not just from people we love but also from God who is the source of life and love.  To be away from God, the source of life and love, is to lose our identity, our calling, and our destiny.  Those who live in sin have no peace and direction in life.  Such a person is never at peace, even if he has all the things in this world; never happy because he has no real loving relationships with anyone.This accounts for the gospel story of why only one was healed even though all were cured.   Only the Samaritan was healed, as Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you.”  To be saved is to be healed.  But to be cured does not mean one is healed or saved.  Cure involves external healing but being healed is holistic, when a person is healed emotionally, physically and spiritually.   The fact that the other nine did not go beyond themselves shows that they were still self-centered and cared only for themselves.  They did not give thanks to God or to Jesus, forgetting them so easily.  The Samaritan however came back to give thanks to God.  His deep appreciation for Jesus demonstrates his gratitude towards God and those who have helped him.Indeed, a grateful man is always a happy man.  Gratitude is one of the most important virtues for happiness.  Only those who are grateful are contented because for them everything is a bonus.  They are never demanding, choosy, complaining or take things for granted.  Instead they are always so grateful for whatever they have and whatever is given to them.  Such people express their thanks not only in words but in actions.  In their gratitude they, too, return what they have received.  This was true in the case of St Paul when he experienced the mercy of God for him even though he persecuted the Church.  He wrote, “Remember the Good News that I carry.  It is on account of this that I have my own hardships to bear, even to being chained like a criminal – but they cannot chain up God’s news. So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.”An ungrateful person on the contrary is never happy.  He is always complaining, wanting more, never satisfied with whatever is provided and given.  He is always looking for something better and often is jealous, envious and resentful of those who are better off.  Instead of counting his blessings, he focuses on what he is lacking or what he does not have.  Such ingrates are impossible to please and make life miserable for whoever has to serve them.  The off-spring of ingratitude is a heart lacking in charity, tolerance and humility.  They are presumptuous and never grateful to anyone.  That is why we need the healing of the heart and the soul before the healing of the body.  Indeed the other nine lepers were cured of their leprosy but their hearts were still as self-centered as ever.Consequently, if we want to be happy in life, then we must turn to Jesus for holistic healing.  Only Jesus can cure us from both physical and spiritual illnesses.  The sin of leprosy cannot be healed by man, not by acquiring power, political connections, and money but only in Christ.  Faith in Jesus, as the gospel tells us, is the cause of our healing.  Faith heals because faith restores our relationship with God, which is the basis for restoring our relationships with our fellowmen.  To have faith in God like the Samaritan is to have a relationship with Jesus.  Only he could recognize Jesus as one coming from God. By so doing, he also renders obedience and worship to Him.  Faith presumes openness to the grace of God.  Since grace is a free gift and not earned, such a person is always thankful to God for all the blessings he has received.  He is grateful for his health, friendship, work and the ability to serve.  Through gratitude and openness to God, he also opens himself to his fellowmen.Today, we are called to learn from the examples of Elijah and the pagan Army Commander.  When he was healed, he returned to give thanks to Elijah.  He wanted to give him gifts but the prophet rejected his gifts because he knew that all his gifts of healing and prophecy were gifts from God.  These gifts given to him were meant for service of God and man.  The gratitude of the prophet was expressed by his refusal to accept the gifts from Naaman since he claimed no credit.  Indeed, whatever we have, we have nothing to boast about except the mercy and goodness of God.  Everything we have received comes from God’s providence and mercy.  So let us use our wealth, talents and our resources to glorify Him through our generosity and service to others.We too can learn from St Paul as well. He showed his gratitude to God’s mercy by being His apostle of the Good News.  His way of giving thanks was to witness to Christ’s love and mercy both in preaching and in deeds. St Paul was ever ready even to be imprisoned and die for Christ out of love and gratitude for His mercy and love for him.  We too must not allow the Good News we have received from God to be chained by our negligence and selfishness.  We too must announce to the world how great and wonderful our God is.Yes, by giving thanks to God, we will then never forget His works and love for us in our lives.  The Eucharist itself means thanksgiving.  If the Lord Jesus asks us to celebrate the Eucharist in memory of Him, it is because He wants us to recall His love, passion, death and resurrection for us so that we will never lose hope in times of trials and sufferings.  But contemplating on His passion, death and resurrection, we will always be full of joy and hope even when we have to suffer for Him and with Him.  Thanksgiving, which is the meaning of the word, “Eucharist”, is for the salvation wrought by Christ through the paschal mystery.   The mass therefore is a commemoration, a memorial of His passion, death and resurrection.  By giving thanks to the Lord and the Father, we will then share His Spirit of love and unity.Being aware of the Lord’s presence in the Eucharist is what will energize us and keep us going each day, dying to self and living for others.  Contemplating on His passion and death will give us the strength to endure the sufferings and trials that come from love.  This is what St Paul meant when he said, “Remember the Good News that I carry. ‘Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David.’”   If Jesus as a human being could suffer for us for the love of His Father, we too can suffer for those whom God loves as well.Let us be like St Paul in giving witness to Christ’s saving love in our lives.  As he said, we must not allow the Good News to be chained.  Regardless of whatever situation we are in, whether old or young, mobile or immobile, talented or not, rich or poor, we can proclaim Christ through words and works of love and encouragement.  Let us use our lives to be one of joy and encouragement to others.  Indeed, the book of Proverbs says, “A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity (Pro 17:17).  When we encourage each other, we become friends, just like the Samaritan leper who was among the rest of the lepers who were Jews even though they were normally hostile towards each other.  Friendship is often borne from trials and common suffering.  When we suffer together, we tend to empathize with each other and feel for each other.By so doing, we actually heal ourselves and save ourselves.  By not focusing on ourselves but on others, God will bless us abundantly.  Indeed, the greatest joy of life is to give our life in service for others.  In blessing and making others happy, we receive double blessings and joy.  Like the healed lepers who were grateful, we will never be the same again.  Through gratitude their lives transformed others and most of all themselves in a radical way seen in the life of St Paul.What a tragedy to receive a life from God and to use it for ourselves.   God has given us health, talents and resources to be shared with others so that our joy can increase.  So in celebrating life, it is not a question of how long we live but how well we live.  Even if our life is short but if lived intensely in love and service, just like many of the Saints, St Theresa of the Child Jesus and St Dominic Savio, we too will find the fullness of life, here on earth and in heaven.  What a shame that some of us are more concerned about how long we live instead of how well and deeply we live.  Let us employ whatever days we have left on this earth to touch lives, heal hearts and empower people whom we meet each day.- See more at: http://www.csctr.net/reflections/#sthash.g9uDN6gH.dpuf