In this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 17:11–19), Jesus heals ten people with leprosy… but only one comes back to thank Him. It’s easy to label the other nine as ungrateful, but I don’t think it’s that simple. They probably felt grateful; they just didn’t act on it. And that’s the key: gratitude isn’t complete until it’s expressed.
Maybe they didn’t know how to find Jesus again. Maybe life pulled them in a different direction. Maybe they couldn’t think of the right words. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to relate. We’ve all had moments where we meant to say thank you… but didn’t.
There are two places we need to be more intentional with our gratitude: to God and to others.
Gratitude toward God is actually the easier one. A few years ago, I attended a Chris Stefanick event at St. Therese where he shared insights from his book Living Joy. One of his biggest takeaways stuck with me: make time every day to give thanks to God. Not just for the big stuff, but for the everyday blessings we take for granted like having a roof over our heads, a job, our health, our families. Gratitude like this doesn’t require anything fancy. You can do it in your car, in the shower, in bed, on a walk. No excuse.
The second kind of gratitude, toward others, takes more effort. I regularly feel thankful for the amazing people in my life: my wife, kids, friends, volunteers at St. Isidore. I’ll hear a homily or podcast about gratitude and think, I should text that person, write them a card, let them know. But then life happens.
I sometimes tell myself: “Well… to write a card, I’d need to buy one… find their address… get a stamp…” Or, “It’s been too long…it’d be awkward now.”
But the truth is, it’s never too late to say thank you. Even a simple text or email can go a long way. When someone takes the time to show appreciation, especially when it’s unexpected, it brightens the whole day. It makes us feel seen, valued, loved.
So here’s your challenge:
1. Right now… pick up your phone. Text, email, or call someone just to say thank you for something they did, or just for being in your life.
2. Before or after Mass this weekend, stop by the gathering space. We’ve left some blank Thank You cards there. Grab one. Fill it out. Send it.
Let’s not just think thankful thoughts. Let’s actually follow through and let our gratitude ripple out into a world that needs it more than ever.
