Gratitude

Today's passage describing the cure of the ten lepers, only one of whom returned to say thank you, (Lk 17: 11-19) reminds us that gratitude should always be part of our prayer.  Our busyness and our need (real or created) to move quickly through our activities tend to cause us to rush through prayer, and often eliminate this essential ingredient. Jesus doesn't chide or punish the 9 who didn't say thanks, but his treatment of the one who did certainly indicates that he appreciates, as we all do, an acknowledgement of the gifts he daily showers upon us.  We might stop between tasks to look back, see that hand of God in what has transpired already, and say thank you.  At the end of the day, as we offer our night prayer, gratitude should be a major thread.  If we haven't been doing this, or if it's only half-hearted, and fast, we might start, and give ample time for our gratitude to resonate within us and in the heart of Jesus.
Bro. Rene