Gratitude

"Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"  Lk 17:17

Recent days in the New York City area, following Hurricane Sandy, have caused all of us to think about basic needs and services. Not only have most of us been without electricity for a week or more, thousands of homes have been destroyed and many other homes will not be habitable again for months, if ever. The south shore of Long Island and the New Jersey coast have been so battered and bruised that the people who live there are still in shock.

Unfortunately, for most of us, it takes a storm like this to make us think about what we so often taken for granted. Being without electricity and heat for days, and being unable to find gasoline for our cars makes us realize how dependent we are on the services which most of the time time we can find anywhere, and forces us to pause in gratitude.

Jesus reminds us of this same reality. It was a foreigner, someone without a voice or a home, who returns after being healed to thank him. The clear call of the Gospel is to be thankful each day not only for the simple gifts of food, water and heat, but for life itself.

Today, thank someone who provides you with a basic service.

How do you avoid taking life's necessities for granted?