Remember to Say 'Thank You' - June 1
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47, 48; Deut. 12:1-12; 2 Cor. 6:3-13(14-7:1); Luke 17:11-19
Today’s Reflection
Acknowledgement is a powerful thing. In most situations, acknowledgement goes both ways. In today’s Gospel passage from Luke 17, we find Jesus, as usual, is on the move. He’s traveling between Samaria and Galilee, on his way to Jerusalem. Going through a village, Jesus is approached by ten lepers. They keep a safe distance (we know all about that now), but as they do so they cry out to Jesus for acknowledgement: “Have mercy on us!”
In that moment, Jesus could have just kept walking. But, being Jesus, he turned to them and told them what they could do to be healed: “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And if they would step out in faith, and just begin to walk down the path to healing, their faith would make them well. Jesus acknowledged these ten people, all of whom society said were unclean people—people whom most everyone else would have ignored or avoided even acknowledging.
But what is especially important to notice in this passage is the fact that the acknowledgement was mutual—at least with one of those who was healed:
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’
Just one of the ten who was healed remembered to say thank you—he stopped to praise God for this miracle of healing, for this chance for being able to live a whole, healthy life from now on. This person realized that even God, creator of all and worker of miracles, wants to be acknowledged. Jesus was touched by the fact that this person, in his moment of elation at being healed, took a moment to stop, turn back, and “praise God with a loud voice.” It wasn’t a quiet moment of thanks—he wanted everyone to hear him praising God for showing mercy on him and his friends.
God created people because God wants to be in relationship with us. One of the basic building blocks of being in relationship is acknowledgement—taking a moment to notice someone’s needs, as Jesus did with the lepers, or taking a moment to give praise and thanks when you notice someone being generous or doing the right thing (whether for you or for someone else). As the German mystic and theologian Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ that will be enough.”
—Becky+
Questions for Self-Reflection
When has someone taken the time to acknowledge something you have done right, whether for them for someone else? How did it change your relationship in that moment, and afterward, to feel appreciated and acknowledged?
Daily Challenge
Whether in a journal or a piece of scrap paper or in the notes app on your phone, commit to keeping an informal gratitude journal this week. When you feel thankful for something, make a note of it—and take a moment to praise God for these gifts of mercy you are noticing in your life.