(AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Photo to the right: Pope Benedict XVI pays homage to the icon of Jesus Christ at the beginning of the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 4, 2010.
It happens every day, everywhere in the world. We hit a bump in the road, a trial that sends us to our knees imploring, “My God, my God, help me!” Without doubt or question, God helps us. It is in His way and on His time, but He will always help us. In need, we ask for God’s help; when He answers, how many of us remember to thank God? The evangelist Luke tells us of ten lepers who appeal to Christ, begging Him to heal them. He heals all ten and they go on their way rejoicing – only one returned to thank Christ, the Divine Healer. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun of the late 17th century who received private revelations of and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was once told by Jesus, “What afflicts me the most is this lack of gratitude [of man].”
Why is gratitude so rare? When we pray, we pray prayers of praise and adoration, prayers of petition, why do we forget the prayers of thanksgiving? We do strive to live in the moment; if in distress, we pray for help, if happy, we pray rejoicing. But, what about stepping out of the moment and offering thanks to God for His help?
To find an example of thanksgiving, we need only turn to our Blessed Mother. Her Magnificat is a prayer of praise and adoration, and a prayer of thanksgiving: “He that is mighty hath done great things to me. Can I do otherwise than rejoice in blessing the Most High who is my salvation?" After the model of Mary, true humility consists in recognizing our gifts from God as something not of ourselves, but of God’s goodness.
We do receive God’s blessings every day of our lives. When we are enjoying the wonders of this world that He freely gives to us, stop and give thanks. When we ask for and receive the benefit of His Divine Providence, let's stop and take a moment to shout from our hearts, “Thanks be to God!”
The Columbus Catholic Connection: Read Bishop Campbell’s Easter Message at the home page for the Diocesan website.
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