St. Norbert's Church - Sunday Reflections

Today we hear of Naaman, who could not believe that God asked so little of him in order to be healed. Then the Gospel tells us of the ten lepers and only one returns to give thanks after being healed. It is faith that heals both of these men. Faith is not always what we think it is. Naaman's faith had to be prodded so that he could accept the meekness of our God. The one leper who returned was not the only one healed, but the others did not give thanks.

We are invited to reflect on our own faith at this time of year. Do we want great and marvelous actions from God or are we content with the small touches of love that He normally gives to us? Do we give thanks each day for the wonder of being able to live and to love and to serve others?

Faith does not have to be some great effort on our part. It is simply looking around us and believing that there is a God who created all of this, who continues to create all of this and who loves us and invites us to share His life. Okay, that is a fairly big step and lots of people simply cannot take such a step. Perhaps we can just begin by believing that there is some force behind all that we see and live in our lives. Perhaps we can believe that there is something, even if we cannot bring ourselves to believe in someone.

For us who do believe, we can ask to renew the miracle of faith in our lives by seeing the wonder of all of this creation and the wonder of a daily gift of life. Far too easily we take our faith for granted and then cease to be in awe. Really, it is so incredible that God loves us and each day gives us life and invites us to share His life. In it incredible that we are invited to eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ. If we knew the power of this mystery, we would surely die immediately.

Giving thanks should be part of our daily life as well. We don't have to have something special happen in our lives in order to give thanks. Thanksgiving is what Eucharist is about and it is what our daily living can reflect each day. Sometimes life can only be endured. Yet even then, we can thank God for the gift of endurance. Sometimes our personal pains and sufferings threaten to overwhelm us. Even then we can give thanks that He is with us.

We can learn to offer whatever happens to us each day for the sake of others, both the good and the bad. Saint Paul puts it this way: I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen. We are invited to pray for all others and especially for the members of the household of the faith. We are always able to live our lives for others, no matter where we are or what we are doing. Because of that, we can always give thanks.

My sisters and brothers, let us rejoice today because we are called to share in the very life of God. Let us give thanks and rejoice in the Lord. Our faith saves us.