Gospel Reflections for October 9 2016
A better way of saying thank you…
Jesus had a different way of saying “Thank you” than we do today. You might find it could also offer a whole different view of life.
The ancient word for “thanks” was “towdah,” the same word spoken in Hebrew today. It’s just one word, just as our English word is one. However, in the ancient word it was not enough to simply say that one word, “towdah.” Instead, you would say out loud all the things a person did for you for which you are saying thanks. You might say, “Thanks …for helping me build a new shed, for helping me plow my field, and for lending me some grain for dinner, etc.”
Since praise was always given in public, that also enhanced your friend’s reputation in the village as a doer of good deeds, a nice thing for you to do out of gratitude!
However, it also helps you in a subtle yet profound way as well. By listing all the good things that have come your way, it can help put your own life in a more accurate perspective.
Every life is actually a mix of both good and bad things that happen each day, e.g., you got to work on time, but then lost a big sale. Unfortunately, we sometimes remember only the bad events and forget the good. Including the good events gives us a more accurate view of our life, and that it is not just bad things happening. The ancient way of saying “Thank you” is the same as our modern practice of “Counting our blessings.”
That can also remind us of any bad things that are not happening, e.g. our car is not broken, I am not sick, or I am not without friends.
One person in today’s Gospel returns to Jesus to give thanks. You can bet that he not only announced his cure, but all the things that he can now accomplish because of his new health. He counted his blessings out loud to Our Lord and to the nearby crowd. He received an even deeper healing than just physical health.
There is an ancient practice of saying a prayer of thanks to God first thing in the morning. Beginning tomorrow, how about listing in detail all that is going well with your life and also what is not going wrong at that moment. It can make for a much better day
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you so much for that reflection Father Dave. Sharing aloud–my gratitude–absolutely returns that JOY of God’s gift of life He has given me and inspires me to repeat it often!
God bless you Father Dave
Marilyn Olson
St Rose of Lima
You are welcome!
Dear Father Dave,
We were looking for some entertainment just the other evening, and we came across the movie “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby on Netflix. One of the musical pieces is “Count Your Blessings”. The song suggests that one can count his/her blessings instead of counting sheep in order to fall asleep. I agree, that is good advice.
I agree with you, …and Bing!
Dear Father Dave, Love your precious thoughts!!! Dick and I will always count our blessings for we are soooooooooooooothankful for alllllllllllllllllll the precious gifts our loving God has given to us!!! the gift of our precious faith, the gift of Jesus, and His presence in our Holy Eucharist, the gift of beautiful forgiveness, the gift of our beautiful Blessed Mother, the gift of our loving parents and beautiful family, the gift of dear friends, the gift of life and the precious gift of You!!!! We are sooooooooooooooooooooooooblessed!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! Have a precious day in Jesus and Mary’s incredible love!!! It is a a forever gift of LOVE!!! embraced in thankfullness!!!
Loveeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
You are welcome!
Insightful explanation of today’s Gospel message! Thank you Fr. Dave – towdah – for your studied explanations of Jesus’ lessons.
This week is the 90th birthday of one of the Jesuit priests who taught me at the university. You inspired me to write to him today and express the gratitude I have always felt for the wisdom he and his many confreres shared with so many students. It was not just the classroom lessons, but the “walkin’ around” moments that were integral to their tutelage. They embody my ideal of “educators,” because they led their students to discovery.
Please don’t hold my Jesuit background against me, I realize they do not staff USC or Notre Dame, but somehow their example lives in your ministry – towdah!
What an awesome response!thank you for understanding it so well. I am actually grateful for the tremendous Jesuit missionary legacy around the world. They were the Catholic “Navy Seals” that fearlessly brought the faith to far off lands.
Yes they are, still God’s SEALS today. My current hobby is trying to find the burial site of Mateo Ricci, the Jesuit priest who was a member of the Imperial court in the 1600’s. It’s around here somewhere. After a 2 year search, I’m still looking, getting warm I think.
Catholicism in China today is dominated by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. The good priests and bishops are validly, not licitly, ordained because the Pope does not want to consult with the government about the appointment of Catholic leaders. Things are changing. Roman Catholic clergy are no longer required to belong to that association.
The Jesuit tradition of Ricci’s influence continues. There are now at least two Jesuit priests teaching at China’s most prestigious university. Students from USA Jesuit institutions, including my alma mater, routinely attend that university on one year exchange programs. The priests are welcomed to the faculty as eminent educators, their clerical and religious identity is certainly not “emphasized.”
Exposure to all this history makes me happy I was born in the USA, much less history to remember.
Thanks for your great message. I just read a movie script written by a friend of mine about the life of Mateo Ricci. It is a story that must be told.
In the long run, I do not think the Chinese government can stop for long authentic Catholic religious movement. Their ability to control the population is not what it used to be.
I am sure the Jesuits there will exercise prudential wisdom and proceed wisely, and effectively.
What was even more interesting was that the Samaritans were on the outs with the Jews. I love this scripture as it shows Jesus came for all.
Your remarks about thank you is really true. I have been trying to remember to say thank you. How easy we forget. By the way, Thank you for your continuing to do these reflections. It has been a great experience and when I am at Mass on Sunday I am excited to see what the homily is and to see if they are close to what I am getting. It really adds to my spiritual insight. Again, Thanks much.
You are very welcome!
Thank you Fr. Dave for raising our awareness about thankfulness.
I like your idea on thanking the Lord first thing in the morning as we start our day,
counting our blessings.
When we are thankful we appreciate what the Lord has done for us,
and for His gifts that keep on giving.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His steadfast love
endures forever”
Yes, the psalmist understood the lesson of gratitude well.
My husband and I, who are both health care providers, often say, “We are so glad to give care, and not get it!”
Well said!
And, it’s time to say “thank you!” to you, Father Dave, for your meaningful weekly gospel reflections! Thank you, ever so much!
God bless us all!
Peter and Joan
You are very welcome! I am deeply honored that you appreciate these reflections.
Thank you, Father Dave, for reminding us to be grateful all the good things we have. Sometimes those “gray clouds” are really difficult.
Yes, a daily practice of gratitude accomplishes a lot!
Dear Father Dave,
Thank you so much for your beautiful gospel reflections. I enjoy them each week but they are especially meaningful to me when I am scheduled to lector, which I am today. Also, beginning tomorrow morning I am going to start that ancient practice of saying a prayer of thanks to God. I have a lot to be thankful for but I often forget to thank the One who makes all things possible.
Yes, I am glad you will begin that new habit. Only good things will come from it!
Towdah Fr, Dave,
You are welcome!
Thanks for the reflection father
Hope I’ll continue t receive more updates from you.
They will come every week. Stay tuned!