TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Elder Chris Beltran

There was a girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone except her loving boyfriend, who was always there for her. She told him, “If I could only see the world, I would marry you.” One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the operation was done, the bandages were removed, and she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, “Now you can see the world. Will you marry me?” The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind, too. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She didn’t expect that. The thought of living the rest of her life like that led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears. Days later, he wrote her a note. It said, “Take good care of your eyes, my love, for before they were yours, they were mine.” The sacrifice has been made, but the gratitude was not there.

Today, we live in entitlement, envy, and ungratefulness. Even if people have to sacrifice things for us, we often take it for granted. Children are taking their parents for granted, the same with married couples, employers and employees, congregations and pastors—vice versa. People think they are entitled to their right to free speech and that an apology is not required, even if it hurts others. It was as if there is this unspoken virtue: there is no need to be grateful; we are entitled to it. This mentality created a culture of ungratefulness in our society.

Jesus of Nazareth traveled along the border of Samaria and Galilee when ten lepers called out to him, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” “Go, show yourselves to the priests,” Jesus responded. The lepers went to the priests and were cleansed. However, the story doesn’t end there. A single leper, a Samaritan, returned and threw himself at the feet of Jesus. Out of the ten lepers healed, only one returned.

“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Luke did not tell us how the Samaritan replied, but Jesus uttered something before sending the man on his way. “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

God has always been good, although people rebel and refuse to acknowledge Him and His ways. He has given us life to live, air to breathe, water to drink, sunlight to appreciate, rain to enjoy, food to eat, health to treasure, and family to love; everything is His blessing. He even sent His only son Jesus to die on the cross for ungrateful and rebellious people like us; through Christ, we can have the gift of eternal life with Him.

Even if we do not deserve it, a great sacrifice was made by our Lord. However, instead of showing gratitude, we oppose and don’t want to accept His love by insisting that our way is better. It is only by the grace and mercies of God that we are delivered from our ungratefulness. Think about what Jesus did for us and always have the heart of thanksgiving. Be grateful to the Lord for His faithfulness in our lives. Intentionally look for opportunities and express gratefulness to people who have cared for and ministered to us.

Nine lepers did not show their gratitude back, which represented most of us who are ungrateful. May the Holy Spirit bless all of us with a culture of appreciation in our family, workplace, community, church, and everywhere to be examples in giving thanks from a grateful heart.

REFLECTION

Be grateful. Before complaining to God about your bad day, think about the person who did not wake up today. Before complaining about your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before complaining about your small house, think of the people living in the streets. Before complaining about your job, think of the countless people who would fight to have one. Before complaining about your children, think about those who desire to be parents but are barren. Before complaining and pointing a finger, judging and condemning others, remember that not one of us is without sin. Always be thankful to our Lord for His sacrifice and manifest His love and compassion out of that gratefulness.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to give thanks with a grateful heart. Like the song says, “Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because he has given me Jesus Christ, His Son. Now, let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ Let the poor say, ‘I am rich.’ Because of what the Lord has done for us.” Thank you, Jesus, for being my Lord and savior, for that alone is worth more than all the riches the world can offer. In Jesus’ name, amen.