Take a moment and look at a CRUCIFIX, and you will find the shortest, yet the best prayer for all times. What letter of the Alphabet do you see in the form of the Cross? A letter “T” right? And what letter of the Alphabet do you see in the form of the Body of Christ? A letter “Y” right? These letters we have now T&Y; ‘T’ stands for “THANK” and ‘Y’ stands for “YOU”. And if you add one more letter “L” which stands for “LORD” and put them together you have “T.Y.L”: “THANK YOU, LORD!” Now, every time you look at the CRUCIFIX, just pray, THANK YOU LORD, you have said the BEST PRAYER of all.
In the Gospel we just listened to, Jesus lamented the ingratitude of the nine (9) lepers who were healed. After they were healed, they ran away with their blessings and forgot the source of their healings. Are you blessed with good health and material possessions? Rejoice with your gifts in life and don’t forget the GIVER of your blessings. Say and pray T.Y.L.
The problem many a time and with many of us is that we go back to the Giver of Gifts only when we have lost them or when we are about to lose them. Often times, we go back not to give thanks but to demand and complain. Are we truly grateful people? Are we able to say ‘T.Y.L. in both good and bad times?
LEARN from our world of nature! From TREES, like the Acacia tree, it folds its leaves in prayer as evening comes. From Cows, Carabaos, and other four-footed animals, they bend their front knees in prayer before they sleep at night. Yes, nature is very grateful. Why can’t you and I? I don’t know how long will life end? All I know is that I want to live a grateful life till the end. The biggest misfortune that can befall a person is that he becomes angry and bitter with all his blessings. Some people no longer see or appreciate their gifts and blessings. They always see what is lacking in their lives and feel bad about it. Well, life will never be full and complete, so why don’t you just rejoice with what you already have and will still have, rather than feel miserable about what you want and wish you had.
For a Happy Life, pray for the spirit of Gratitude: FIRST of all: many of our blessings are undeserved. The blessings that we have and claimed to have worked for are nothing compared to the blessings we have received from God. SECONDLY, there are many blessings in our lives that we are not even aware of and which we often take for granted. Rejoice in these blessings. Don’t wallow in misery over deserved blessings. THIRDLY, BE A SOURCE OF BLESSINGS TO OTHERS. That’s what living a grateful life means – being grateful to God for all his blessings and always being a source of joy to others. Find time to say ‘Thank you’ to people. Be expressive of your gratitude to them now, and while they are still alive. Say ‘Thank You’ too even to those who are not pleasing to you, to those who hurt and persecute you and make life miserable for you. They are also sources of tremendous blessings too in the ways of God. Amen!
#148. A STORY OF A ‘SHOUT OF GRATITUDE’ THAT SAVED AN OLD LADY. A few years ago in Rome, a little old lady joined a charismatic group and here she learned how to praise God in all circumstances. Shortly afterwards, while taking a stroll in the city, she was victimized by a purse-snatcher who coming from behind, grabbed her purse and started running away. The little old lady was so startled that she instinctively shouted, “PRAISE THE LORD! ALLELUIA!” Well, he heard this prayer of thanksgiving, the snatcher was so taken by surprise that he dropped the purse and fled away in panic. And this old lady recovered her purse. All because of her ‘SHOUT OF GRATITUDE.’ Amen to that!
This week, on Monday we have Columbus Day (observed). It is also Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Thanksgiving Day in Canada. On the 11th, we celebrate the optional memorial of St. John XXIII, Pope who convoked the Second Vatican Council in 1962-1965. On the 14th, we have the feast day of St. Callistus I, Pope and Martyr and instituted Ember Day fasts. The 15th is the memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and first woman declared as ‘Doctor of the Church’ (1970); also patroness of Spain. This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin.
Your Priest-Servant and Parochial Administrator,
Fr. Reggie
