Three men
used to visit the Pastor once a year. They came from New jersey, Oklahoma &
California. They just wanted to make sure a certain widow was doing OK. They
reminded the Pastor that if any need should arise, call one of them.
They always
made sure her house was taken care of, including yard work and repairs. They
would help her with her taxes and made sure she drove a safe car.
Years
before, the three men were standing in a house in Normandy just after D-Day. A
grenade was tossed down the stairs. A fourth soldier, this woman’s husband,
threw himself on the grenade. He did not survive. They did.
After the
war, these three men made sure to look after his widow. Great story – but there
is one more thing – there were eighteen soldiers in that room. All were spared
by that courageous act. Only three returned to give thanks.
Why did only
one return to give thanks? Perhaps:
-
One
waited to see if the cure was real
-
One
waited to see if it would last
-
One
said he would see Jesus later
-
One
said he never had leprosy in the first place
-
One
said he would have gotten well anyway.
-
One
gave glory to the priests
-
One
said Jesus really didn’t do anything
-
One
said any rabbi could have done it
-
One
said I was already much improved
Eucharist
means thanksgiving. Sometimes we pray or come to Mass thinking – what am I
getting out of it? What’s in it for me? – when in fact it should be the very opposite
– what return do I make to the Lord for my very life, my existence, my
blessings, for all the good God has done for me??? To live in thanksgiving changes how I look at my
life!
I spoke last
week about Bill Gates – 2nd richest billionaire. The very first
American billionaire was a man intent on success, riches and power. At 23 he
was a millionaire, at 50, 1 billion. At age 53, he was a very sick man. His
body was racked with pain. A man who could buy anything he wanted, he could
only digest milk and crackers. He could not sleep; he did not smile, and he
lost the will to live. Doctors gave him less than one year.
One night he
had a dream, and it was revealed that he could take nothing with him into the next
world. It was time for a choice.
He called
his lawyers, accountants and managers and told them he wanted to use his assets
for good. On that day the John D Rockefeller Foundation began. This would lead
to the discovery of penicillin, cures for strains of malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria.
It is estimated that he may have saved up to one billion lives.
The moment
he began to give back, his body chemistry began to change. He recovered and
lived to be 98. He learned to give
thanks and it made him whole. What shall it be – like the nine or like the one?
May we never cease giving thanks!!!!
