Gratitude

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

In today’s Gospel, ten lepers cry out to Jesus for mercy, and all ten are healed. Yet only one returns to give thanks. It is easy to shake our heads and wonder how others could forget, but if we are honest, we often do the same. We are very quick to make ourselves the hero of the story. How often do you imagine yourself as the one who doesn’t do as the Lord asks?

Everything we have, our time, our talents, our treasures, even the very breath in our lungs, is not truly ours. It is all a gift from God. Yet how often do we pause to thank Him? How often do we see our blessings for what they are, instead of focusing on what we lack or what frustrates us? To quote Fr. Mike Schmitz in a recent Homily, “you have everything you need to become a Saint. You have everything you need.”

We live in a country where most of us have far more comfort and opportunity than much of the world, yet gratitude can still be scarce. We get caught up in daily complaints, small inconveniences, or unmet wants, forgetting how abundantly blessed we are.

The Samaritan leper reminds us that gratitude is more than good manners; it is an act of faith. When we recognize that all we have is a gift, our hearts are lifted toward the Giver. Gratitude changes how we see our lives. It brings humility, peace, and most importantly, joy.

Today, take a moment to look around and name the gifts in your life, your family, your health, your work, your faith, your very breath. And then, like the Samaritan, turn back to the Lord and give thanks.

Speaking of gratitude.  A big shout out to our dinner committee and all of our families who helped to make our dinner possible this past weekend.  We helped to serve over 1000 people and made $29,255.00 an increase from the previous year by over $500.00!  We heard many positive responses from our visitors.  One that stood out to me was, “I love coming for the food and company!”  Many commented on the excellence of our roast beef and how welcoming our community was to them.  Even my parents and relatives came up again for a second year running!  Truly, thank you all for helping to make our dinner an event to celebrate.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Luke Fleck