In my abstract imagination, I visualized that it must have happened somehow and somewhat like this. When the ten lepers heard about Jesus and his ability to do miracles, they must have made up their mind to go and meet Him. They had heard about His popularity because He had done many extraordinary things. He had cured blindness, deafness, restored speech and brought back people from the dead. Although reluctant, because hatred between Jews and Samaritans was fierce and long-standing issue those days, they nevertheless must have decided to go and meet Him. They had nothing to lose.

Jesus as we know had lot of followers and it must have been very difficult to get closer to Him. But in their minds, they had a plan that if people see ten together, they’ll make way. And, even if they didn’t, they thought of  calling  His name in a loud voice and He would hear them. This faith had gained them 50 points outright.

As Jesus came walking towards them, He heard them shouting. “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” I am positive, Jesus must have paused for a while as usual hearing their pleas and must have looked at them sympathetically as He always does. Turning at them as bible tells us He advised them to go and show themselves to the priest.  And Bible again confirms that as they went, they were made clean. Luke 17:11-19

In their excitement and joyfulness, they must have thought of going in their own ways except one who was grateful and I am sure when he told the other nine that they all should go back and thank Him, surely one of them must have protested saying “Thank Him, for what?”

“It was His duty, and He did it. So, keep quiet, stay here and let’s enjoy life once more,” one of the ten must have said supporting him.

The one who was grateful appeared to be determined; or so I thought. “You can stay here and enjoy your life. I’m going back to thank Him. This would never have been possible without Him. I’m leaving, good-bye.” He must have said to the other nine.

The Holy Scripture narrates us that One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”  Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Being Grateful – is  it necessary? The importance of being grateful is one of the few things in life that almost everyone can agree on. The only thing we don’t do very often is talk about why thankfulness is so important. Some might say that it is a core value and leave it at that. However, others might argue that if we had a better understanding of gratitude, we might be more mindful of practicing it on a daily basis.

I personally feel it is important for “Jesus” Himself had emphasized that it was necessary. “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”

As we are threading on the last month of the year lets be grateful for everything good that has transpired for the last 365 days in our lives.  And to few I can immediately recollect and relate to are;

First and foremost, to our Creator to whom we all belong. Our gratitude glorifies God as we exalt not the gifts, but the Giver. Gratitude helps us realize all we have, comes not because of us, but from God. For His Provision and Blessings. Apart from being grateful to God for who He is, we should be thankful to God for His blessings that He bestows upon us every day. We must train our minds to remember that every day God gives us is a gift. Be grateful for His forgiving nature, his blessings and his protection and most of all our gratefulness for the fact that we are still celebrating this year-end and perhaps will for many more years in future. Many were not fortunate.

Gratitude to your family. Thank God for the family He has provided you and thank them as they stood like a rock behind you in everything you did. Our families are one of the most important things in our lives. Researchers have observed that in all the societies they have studied, family plays a crucial role in the success of individuals. A family’s influence on young children can last a lifetime in many ways. Healthy families are the building blocks of a healthy society. And God was most kind in building block of this in our lives.

Be grateful to your Friends: It has become a custom nowadays to desert a sinking ship. Your friends look the other way if you are not important to them. A good friend will show a genuine interest in what’s going on in your life, what you have to say, and how you think and feel. And when you reach for him in your darkest hour you will find him nearby. If you have friends who are loyal, true source of comfort and support in your life  be grateful for them and thank them. They are an added asset given to you by God.

Appreciate people who hate you: Just like the people who reject you, your enemies also help you become a better person. They inspire you to prove to the world that you are so much better than the person they think you are. Probably if not for them, you wouldn’t even realize that there are 2 sides to a coin.

Be thankful for your Parishioners as we have managed to see the hand of God at work. We should be forever grateful for their support, kindness, and love. Indeed they revealed the true foundation of this church is their unity, support and togetherness.

Being grateful to our Parish Priests. Thank you Fr. Andrew and Fr. Leslie for being our lighthouse and guiding us, sacrificing the fulfilment of making it in this world  in order to give us a chance to make it in the next world. You didn’t take on the job,  it was appointed to you. You put your own will at the disposal of the church for us and  for that we are eternally grateful.

At this year end time let us be grateful to God for many other things in life that sometimes we are not even aware of. Like for example, Being alive; The ability to feel emotions; Freedom of expression; Having something to eat; The air that you breathe; Having water to drink; Sunshine; Living on this beautiful planet; Your parents; Being a citizen of this country and many more.

While extending you all my Compliments of the Season I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2024 in advance. May there be new Beginnings, New Ideas, New Energy, and your old perseverance bring in a new spark of success in your life and peace into your homes and blessings on your families. May the coming new year be full of all the excitement and surprises and Gods choicest blessings on you all too.

With my spiritual salutations and warmest regards.

– Agnelo A.S. Fernandes (Ward 12)