October 8-9

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Very much of our attention is fixed on what God has done for us and rightly so.  But it begs the question, “what have I done for Him?”  We might think, “Oh God is all powerful.  What does He need from me?”  Of course, the answer is that we cannot possibly give Him anything that matters, or does it?  He would indeed be pleased with our humble gratitude.  We see this so clearly in today’s Gospel reading.  It is important to remember that we are owed nothing.  All that comes our way is gift.  Even when we imagine that: “I accomplished such and such, or, I brought this about.”  Well, who gave us the ability to accomplish anything?  It all comes either directly or indirectly from the Lord.

    Our lives must always reflect an endless gratitude to God, even when we find ourselves afflicted by sickness or adversity.  Would the leprous man have ever encountered the Lord were it not for his affliction?  I cannot help but think of couples who pledge themselves to each other in the marriage vows, especially “for better or for worse”.   It’s easy to love during the “better”, but what happens when the “worse” may come?  Is that not the test of the real love, the suffering love, the unshakable love?  Even in the midst of that one can be grateful to God for it purifies and intensifies the love that was pledged on the wedding day ever bringing it to maturity and the strengthening of a person’s character and above all Faith.

    Let the spirit of gratitude to God for good or ill ever be a part of your spiritual life that we may gladden the Heart of the Lord.

With Blessings,

Father Langan