Offer Him Thanks - October 2025
After his healing in the Jordan river, Naaman returns to Elisha. It’s his miraculous healing that has led to him recognize the God of Israel as the one who had healed him. In thanksgiving, he desires to offer sacrifice, and pledges that he “will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except the Lord.”
In the Gospel, we see the Samaritan returning to Jesus after his healing, falling at the Lord’s feet and “glorifying God in a loud voice.” Both Scripture readings tell us that when we recognize what God has done for us, our first response is (or should be) to worship.
That’s why our central act of worship as Catholics is called Eucharist. Eucharist is a Greek word that means thanksgiving. When we come to worship God, what is it that we’re grateful for? If gratitude is the heart of worship, it’s a fruitful practice to intentionally spend some time considering God’s providence (His protective care) in our lives over the past week so we come to the liturgy prepared to offer thanks.
Something interesting to note about today’s Gospel is that Jesus heals all ten of the lepers, not only the one who returned to offer thanks. As humans, we can be tempted to withhold love when we know it will not be acknowledged or appreciated. We are offended when someone doesn’t say “thank you” or send a “thank you card” soon enough. But, Jesus heals all ten.
God is good to us, even when we’re ungrateful. As Paul says, “If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” God can do only one thing: love. How powerful would it be if we worked to imitate the unwarranted love we see in today’s Gospel?
Think about opportunities to practice this kind of love. What a witness this would be to the world if we were to imitate God’s way of loving.
Take some time this Sunday to examine your life this week, reflecting on where you’ve seen God’s action in your life. How has God provided for your needs? How has God accompanied you through challenges? How has the Spirit of God brought consolation and strength? Come to Mass and Worship God and offer Him thanks for these gifts.
Deacon Michael Braun