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 28^th Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Gratitude as a Daily Response to God’s Blessings

Readings: I King 5:14-17; 2 Tim 2: 8-13; Lk 17:11-19

Dearest friends in Christ, the readings of this Sunday invite us to cultivate a spirit of gratitude, to recognize and give thanks to God for His countless blessings in our lives. Most times, we dwell on our problems and disappointments, forgetting to appreciate the grace that surrounds us daily. Today, the Church gently reminds us that thanksgiving should not be a seasonal gesture but a daily exercise. She presents to us a God who desires our gratitude, a God who blesses us continually and lovingly.

But how do we recognize these blessings? How can we be certain that His blessings are reaching us each day? Many people often associate divine favour only with extraordinary events, such as promotion at work, surviving a serious accident, the birth of children, healing from a deadly illness, or extraordinary academic success. While these are indeed blessings, they are not the only signs of God’s goodness.

If we pause and reflect on the rhythm of our daily lives, we will discover that every moment reflects God’s blessings. Often, we attribute the good around us solely to our own efforts, to the efficiency of our governments, or to the progress of science and technology. Yet, this view falls short of the deeper truth.

The fact that we went to sleep and woke up the next day is not merely due to our own actions, for not everyone who went to bed that night woke up in the morning. That we go to work, to the market, or to school and return safely is not merely the result of caution, for some who made similar journeys did not return unharmed. That we recovered from illness after medical care is not simply due to our wealth or the brilliance of doctors, for some persons with greater resources and more experienced doctors did not overcome the same sickness we had. The stability of our homes is not solely a product of our architectural knowledge or expensive materials, for some others who invested in more expensive materials and sought the expertise of top architects have seen their homes destroyed by natural disasters. And when we drive out and return safely, it is not just because of our driving skills or the quality of our car, for many with better cars and more experienced in driving have faced accidents on the same roads. Therefore, a bit of reflection on our daily experiences reveals the presence and grace of God in all aspects of our lives. This understanding underscores the importance of gratitude towards God. We must learn to count our blessings, not as achievements, but as gifts from God, and return thanks to this God who gives them.

How, then, are we to express our gratitude to God for the countless blessings He pours into our lives? Today’s first reading offers us two ways of responding with thanksgiving. When Naaman was healed by God, he returned to Elisha with material gifts, seeking to thank God. This teaches us that one way to thank God is through the offering of material goods, whether presented through the priest or contributed toward the building and upkeep of God’s house. These are visible signs of our recognition that all we have comes from Him.

Naaman’s second gesture reveals an even deeper form of thanksgiving. When Elisha declined his gifts, Naaman took soil from Israel back to his homeland, so that he could worship only the God of Israel who healed him. In this, we see that true gratitude is expressed through undivided worship of God. Such worship is the heart of the Church’s celebration of the Eucharist. It is a daily sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. We are invited to join in giving glory to God. The Lord who blesses us calls for our faithful worship. We must not offer to another the praise that is His alone.

Today’s Gospel emphasized this call. In this Gospel, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to offer thanks. Jesus asks, “Where are the other nine?” (cf. Luke 17:17). This question reminds us that God wants our gratitude. When we thank Him, we open ourselves to receive even more of His blessings (cf. Mal. 3:10). Let us not focus solely on the gifts, but lift our eyes to the Giver and offer Him our heartfelt thanks.

The second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, takes this teaching even further. Writing to Timothy, Paul spoke not from comfort, but from captivity. Yet, he embraced his suffering as a grateful Apostle of Christ. He told Timothy not to be discouraged by seeing him in chains, for they are part of his witness to Christ.

Through this, Paul teaches us that true gratitude is not reserved for moments of comfort or abundance. Rather, it flows from the deep awareness that we belong to a good and faithful God, one whose grace does not vanish in times of trial, difficulty and suffering.

Dear friends, hardships, disappointments, and painful experiences must not silence our thanksgiving to God. They do not signal the absence of God’s grace. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, God remains God. Paul’s life becomes a living testimony to this truth. That was why he exhorts us, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Dear friends, let us make gratitude our daily offering. And like Paul, let us give thanks even in trials, trusting that the God who blesses us in joy also sustains us in sorrow.

Peace be with you.  Have a blessing-filled Sunday

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima