Go And Show Yourselves

Beads of Joy 10-10-10

Go And Show Yourselves
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Interesting gospel today, we all know that being ungrateful is a bad thing. Jesus in His mercy for the ten, healed them all, why didn't all of them show gratitude? Today's gospel is Luke 17:11-19 (The Cleansing of Ten Lepers). Have we ever been ungrateful? Are we blessed and do we show appreciation to those who give us mercy and love in our lives? And why did only one return to Jesus with thanksgiving? Let us allow the spirit to lead us through this reflection, so we can try to better understand the special blessing we receive while we meditate on His words. These lepers begged for mercy, and with just Jesus' word, they were all healed. But when were they healed? Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests, and then they would be cleansed. They simply obeyed the Lord and for that they were healed. But why did Jesus send them to the priests? I think that is a rather interesting observation. Maybe He did this to show the priests the power He had in His spoken word. None of the priests had the power to heal. The Joy the lepers must have had that very day, must have been heard for miles around.

How do we show our individual gratitude to God, for all He does in our life? Yes even if we have challenges, horror stories, pain and suffering. Do we thank Him and love Him graciously as we work through these challenges in our lives? Jesus suffered more horribly than ever us will probably ever suffer in our lives. He was humiliated, beat, whipped, spit up, cursed at, then striped and nailed to a cross to die on that cross. Wow, we complain because we feel we don't get treated well in line at the store. Our suffering is a mere tiny fraction of what our Lord suffered; and His suffering brought defeat to death, forgiveness to all our sins and a doorway open to eternal life in Heaven with Him. Just from that little bit of chatter from me, we can see how pain and suffering can indeed be a blessing. I know this isn't easy to embrace or understand, but suffering and pain and ugly bad news is a blessing. I am not in any position to answer why, only God knows that. But if we really believe that all the things happen in our life, happen for a reason and a purpose, and the purpose is to honor Jesus, and more closer to His will for us in our lives. Then we are only led to believe that our pain and suffering is all for His glory. Some of you know all of my story, the unpublished version, the pain and suffering is something I personally have embraced as a blessing.

This same gratitude should be towards our neighbors and family and friends at church. Do we really show those who care so much for us, gratitude? By Jesus' example we need to be more kind, more caring and more thoughtful in our words. Complaining and grumbling about our world being offended all the time is getting kind of old. All of that has to stop, we need to be more like Jesus in all that we do and in all that we experience in our lives. Yes all of us would love if indeed the world did revolve around us, but I hate to be the barer of bad news, but it don't. This world actually revolves around Jesus, and if more people would live their lives that way, there would be so much more peace. Aren't you happy when someone thinks of you when they go to the store or do something in the house? You were apparently on their minds and in theirs hearts. It's time for many of us to become grateful and thankful in all things. And for those of us who already are, we need to up the anti and be even more grateful now.

Today I think putting out a challenge would be a wonderful thing for all of us. How about we take this kind, merciful way to the mat and make it way more real in our lives. Let's challenge ourselves into some of these ideas: Do one kind act towards someone every single day, look for a chance to help someone, compliment someone, thank someone; whatever you feel led to do, but do a minimum of one a day. An even more humbling challenge for the day would be to use the time you are offended or hurt, to thank that person. Or here's another challenging thought, this is possible. Pick a day, and on that day no matter what kind of a day you are having, be grateful and thankful and kind to everyone. I know that that is an even more difficult challenge. See with this one, if someone cuts you off, gives you the finger, curses you out, whatever; we have to thank them in a kind way and thank Jesus for all of this, good or bad. So who is up to the challenge? Please share your day with us, if you feel led to. If for one moment you feel you can't handle the stress of the day, simply pray, "Jesus, I trust in You" over and over again.


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of The Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation