learning how to thank god
"Which of them was more grateful to him?" —Luke 7:42
Through our sins, we contributed to Jesus' crucifixion and death. Therefore, our sins are serious. Thus, if we have been forgiven, we, like the woman in today's Gospel reading, have been forgiven a great debt (see Lk 7:47) and have reason to be thankful.
The woman in today's Gospel reading shows us how to thank the Lord for forgiving us. We should:
- thankfully spend all our money on God (see Lk 7:37; Mk 14:3ff), that is, we should accept Jesus as Lord of our finances and possessions,
- weep in contrition and thanksgiving (see Lk 7:38), and
- thank the Lord by throwing ourselves at His feet and abandoning our lives to Him (see Lk 7:38).
Because Jesus has shed His blood and died on the cross to free us from our sins, we should be "eternally grateful" and should live lives of thanksgiving. Lives of thanksgiving are lives of radical and joyful abandonment to God's love. Thank God as He wants to be thanked.
Prayer: Father, teach me how to say "thank you" to You.
Promise: "Be a continuing example of love, faith, and purity to believers." —1 Tm 4:12
Praise: St. Andrew's companions in martyrdom included bishops, priests, men and women, married and unmarried, children and young people, and the elderly.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001