As little children, all of us are taught to say “please” and “thank you.” We learn that courtesy and politeness are important, and they characterize us as well mannered. As life goes on, however, we realize that true gratitude goes much deeper than mere courtesy. It is a virtue of the heart and a very rare one at that.
Everyone asks for favors, but few remember to thank. We beg profusely when we need something, but our thanks are brief and formalistic. This was Jesus’ experience, too, and it reveals an important quality of his heart.
One day, when Jesus was traveling through the region between Samaria and Galilee, ten lepers rushed up to meet him (see Lk 17:11-19). From a safe distance, they shouted out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Immediately, Jesus sent them off to show themselves to the priests. They did so, but on the way, they realized that they had been healed. Here, something quite typical happened. Overjoyed with this tremendous miracle, most of the men ran off to tell their families and friends. They were overcome by their good fortune and wanted to share the news with their loved ones. One of the men, however, went running back to Jesus. He praised God with a loud voice and threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.
Jesus looked down at the man and asked, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Lk 17: 17). He found it strange that only one of the men had come back to thank God, since all had received the same marvelous grace. Surely, in part, he was sad because he still had more to give. This miracle was just a sign and foretaste of the truly great things he wanted to do for these men. Yet only one came back, and this one received the gift of faith. But this scene also gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ heart, and how he appreciated the noble virtue of gratitude.
In his own dealings, especially with God, Jesus exhibits this virtue over and over. We have already seen how, before healing Lazarus, Jesus says, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.” But he also gives thanks before every meal, and thanks God for revealing to little ones what is hidden from the learned and the clever (see Lk 10:21). We sometimes think that God’s blessings are to be expected, but Jesus never took them for granted. He took the time to thank God because he had a grateful heart.
In his dealings with us, too, Jesus is just as grateful. During his earthly life as well as now, he is deeply grateful for every gesture of love and every act of kindness. Nothing is lost on him. He may forget our faults and failings, but he never forgets our acts of affection for him (which include all those things done for the “least” of his brothers and sisters). This is deeply consoling, when we realize that many of our attempts at kindness are lost on the people they are meant to serve. Jesus remembers! One day, he will display before us the many gestures of love that we offered him during our lives, many of which we ourselves will have forgotten. And he will say “thank you” with an eternal embrace.
Knowing how much gratitude pleases the heart of Christ, there are many ways we can grow in this virtue daily. The little kindnesses all around us, which we so easily take for granted, furnish us with constant opportunities to thank. The humbler we are and the more aware of our own unworthiness of the many gifts we daily receive, the easier we will find it to practice this beautiful quality of Jesus’ heart.
God’s gifts are meant to lead us to him, not away from him. The same created things can be an occasion for growing in gratitude and love or an occasion to turn away from God preferring his gifts. In his marvelous book The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis puts these wise words into Jesus’ mouth:
“Be grateful, therefore, for the least gift, and you will be worthy to receive a greater. Consider the least gift as the greatest, the most contemptible as something special. And, if you but look to the dignity of the Giver, no gift will appear too small or worthless.”
Lord, I am often more aware of the good things I do for others than of the good things they do for me. It almost seems expected that people treat me well. I also take God’s many gifts to me for granted. Let me start right now to thank you as you deserve.
Thank you for creating me, for calling me into existence. I was nothing, and would never have been, unless you had loved me and desired that I exist. Thank you for my parents and for the education I received from them and from so many others, especially those who taught me most about you. Thank you for the amazing gift of faith and for my baptism, by which I know who you are and why I am here on earth.
From Chapter 19 of A Heart Like His, by Thomas D. Williams
Photo by Vlad Kutepov on Unsplash
