Gratitude

10-02-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Today, Jesus teaches us the value of gratitude and how often we forget or take it for granted. It hurts to admit: How often do we focus on what is missing; and forget to thank God for our blessings?

One of the best attitudes we can develop is gratitude. Let us be grateful for everything and everyone in our life. Blessed those who make it a practice to say: Thank you, Lord! For everything that life has given, or is giving us, the good or bad, the happiness and sadness, and still free from regrets, worries, fears, and hopelessness. “With gratitude, we shift to a higher frequency, which attracts better things.”

We receive so many blessings every day, an abundance of God’s gifts, that we sometimes fail to acknowledge them by being grateful to the Giver. In retrospect, everything in our life is the fruit of God’s generosity, our life, our loved ones, and all that we have and achieved. That is why; I have high respect for people who live grateful lives and who; are already in payback mode. Our payback time begins when our hoarding time ends. The Gospel reminds us to make that choice of payback time now.

The greatest gift of God is His Son, Jesus Christ, who gave us new life in faith. The last night of Jesus before the drama of His arrest and trial reminds us of the peak moment of the luminous mystery, the Institution of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, we encounter the Giver becoming the GIFT. A unique moment for thanksgiving. Let us thank the Lord for His Words and teaching and His Body and Blood, offered on the cross and which we receive in the communion to strengthen our daily life. The Eucharist is the highest form of prayer, a Thanksgiving Prayer. Borrowing the words of Meister Eckhart: If the only prayer we say in our whole life is THANK YOU, that will suffice.

Why do we need to be grateful to God? “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” These words from Jesus are the basis for a grateful life. When we have faith and trust, it moves us to say: “Thank you, Lord!” for everything and everyone, no matter what. When gratitude becomes the essential foundation in our lives, miracles start to happen. Why? Because we believe that God loves us and knows what is best for us, in control of everything and everyone. We pray: That we may receive the gift to see life as a gift, a mission, and a lifetime full of gratitude and appreciation.

Gratitude is closely related to happiness. Let us always learn to count, share our blessings and be grateful for our blessings. True happiness; comes when we become a blessing and source of blessings to others. “It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.”

For those who received God’s healing, forgiveness, deliverance, and prosperity, please do not forget to look up with gratitude. Let our prayer be: Lord, we gratefully, lovingly, and joyfully trust in you and entrust everything and everyone to you. Lord, help us to live a grateful and joyful life.

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