The great mystical writer Meister
Eckhart stated: “If the only prayer that we ever said were that of THANKSGIVING
then it would be enough.” Jesus was dismayed
and saddened at the reaction of nine of the ten lepers who did not return to
Him to render Him thanks for having cured them instantaneously of their
terrible, ugly, and incurable disease—that of leprosy! (Lk.17:11-19)
Given that ingratitude is so
prevalent in the modern society and so displeasing to God, “the giver or all
good gifts”, we would like to offer a few encouraging notes on how we can
enhance an “attitude of gratitude” in our lives. Saint Ignatius of Loyola asserted: “The essence of sin is that of ingratitude.” William Shakespeare hit the mark
commenting: “More painful than a serpent’s
tooth is that of an ungrateful child.”
We will focus on one gift from God to
all of humanity. It is the greatest of all God’s gifts—Himself given under the
appearances of bread and wine in the most Holy Eucharist. Actually the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” Let us pour out our humble and grateful
hearts to the Lord of all good gifts especially for the Eucharist--- the Body,
Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
This great Gift He gave to us the night before He died, at the Last
Supper in the Upper Room surrounded by His first priests and Bishops—the Apostles!
1.
PRIESTHOOD. Let us constantly give thanks to Jesus for
prolonging His own priesthood in the ordained priests. Only they can confect
and transform the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. Thank God for the priests you know and pray
for them, but also pray that God will send more priests to work for the
salvation of souls. “The Harvest is rich
but the laborers are few.”
2.
HOLY MASS. Praise and thank the Lord for the reality of
daily Mass throughout the world. As an
ordained priest, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the very center, heart,
core, essence of my being as priest but also as a Christian Catholic. Those who do not have the habit of daily Mass
might make this proposal to go to daily Mass, when it is possible according to
your schedule. If done, you will never
regret it but be eternally grateful for the graces that will fill your mind,
heart, and soul.
3.
TABERNACLE. Thank God for the presence of the
Tabernacle. This is the little home, the
castle, the abode of the Lord of Lord and the King of Kings. It is His little
House. Do not leave Him alone all day.
Visit Jesus in His little Home. The word
“Bethlehem” means “House of Bread”. Make it a habit to visit Jesus in His
little Home. Maybe this short poem can be of motivation that you visit Jesus in
the Tabernacle and give Him thanks: “Whenever
I see a church I stop to make a visit so that when I die the lord will not say:
Who is it!”
4.
MONSTRANCE. Even more clearly present
is the Eucharistic Lord when he is exposed in the Eucharistic monstrance. The word “Monstrance” with a Latin
derivation actually means “Showing”. Jesus is being manifested, shown
publically, so that we can come to adore Him and thank Him for all the many
gifts that he has bestowed on us and will continual to pour into our lives!
5.
CONSECRATION. Thank God especially in the context of the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the moment of consecration. That is the key
moment when heaven comes down to earth. When the priest repeats the words that
Jesus said at the Last Supper over the bread and wine: “Take and eat this is my
Body; take and drink this is my Blood…” then you are witnessing the greatest
miracle in the world: Jesus truly comes down from heaven to be with us. Emmanuel—meaning God with us is truly with us
again! How thankful we should be for
this gift of gifts!
6.
HOLY COMMUNION. God’s goodness has no limits! The greatest
gesture we can accomplish while living on earth is to receive Holy Communion into
our hearts, into the depths of our souls.
A more deep, intimate, profound union cannot exist on the planet then
the soul that receive Holy Communion worthily.
You soul becomes a living tabernacle, a living sanctuary. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His
love endures forever.”
7.
MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST. Furthermore be thankful that you are not
alone, but in family. The Church is the family of God, the People of God, and
also expressed as the Mystical Body of Christ.
Christ is the Head of the Body and all of us are His members. Rejoice
and thank God that we have our brothers and sisters united in the Lord through
the Eucharistic celebration and reception!
8.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS. In imitation of Jesus and His friends the
saints we should all have a special love and express a special care and
tenderness towards the elderly, the sick, the suffering, the handicapped—these are
the loved ones and favorites of the Lord. Let us thank God for the generous and
selfless work of Eucharistic ministers who in charity visit homes, nursing
homes, hospitals, extended care centers to bring the Eucharistic Lord to them
to alleviate their pain and loneliness. Jesus reminds us: “Whatsoever you do to
the least of my brothers that you do unto me.”
9.
BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES AND ART WORK. The great and saintly Cure of Ars, Saint John
Vianney lived a life of extreme poverty and mortification. He has been chosen
by the Popes as model as well as patron for parish priests. He ate very little,
slept very little (and even that on the floor); he scourged himself to the
shedding of blood and spent close to 15 hours daily in the confessional—in heat
and cold—for more than thirty five years! However, he made trips and concerted
efforts to adorn his church and embellish it in the most beautiful way
imaginable. Why? For the Lord He wanted
to give the best! Let us thank the Lord for the beauty of Churches throughout
the 2000 years of its history. Let us do all we can to help to magnify the
beauty of our own churches. Remember that the Lord of Lord’s and King of King’s
abides in our churches.
10.OUR LADY AND THE
EUCHARIST. Let us render homage, praise and thanks to the Lord God for having
chosen Our Lady to be the living tabernacle of Jesus within her womb during a
course of nine months. When Our Lady
went in hurry to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country she was
actually a living tabernacle, a Corpus Christi, a Eucharistic procession. It all
started with Our Lady’s “yes” to God. Therefore, let us beg our Lady for an
attitude of gratitude, especially for her Son Jesus present in the Church,
present in the Tabernacle, present in the consecration, and especially present
in our hearts after we have receive Holy Communion. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good;
eternal is His mercy.”
