The Power of Gratitude

Scripture lessons:

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c

Luke 17:11-19

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back,
praising God with a loud voice.”

Luke 17:15 (New Revised Standard Version)

 

The two most underused phrases in the English language are, “I’m sorry,” and “Thank you.” To apologize is to open the path for newness in the midst of a broken relationship. To be grateful for what we have received is to be thankful for the gift and, and even more importantly, for the giver of the gift.

When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to give thanks. And that act of thanksgiving was built upon several movements. When the story tells us that the man ‘saw that he was healed,’ it is indicating that he took time to savor the gift of health. By turning back from his journey with the nine companions, he went out of his way to acknowledge the power of what had been done for him, as Jesus had gone out of his way to heal their disease. By giving thanks to God, this individual understood that the power of the Creator’s life flowed through Jesus and into the world. When Jesus told the healed man that ‘your faith has made you well,’ he was pointing out that the same power of life flowed through this man as well.

Gratitude is the response we make to the God who is a constant gift-giver. By giving thanks to God we acknowledge the goodness of the gifts, and come into communion with the Giver.

 

O God of abundance, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for your generosity. As we cherish all that we receive from you, may we in turn be generous givers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

~ by Immanuel Congregational Church on May 31, 2007.