Homily – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

When I was overseas many years ago, I came across these huge letters emblazoned on a school building “tiên học lễ, hậu học văn.”  I quickly learnt this proverb literally means, be educated in your manners before anything else. No matter where we are in the world or which culture we were brought up, showing gratitude is universal to all. One of the first things we learn from our parents apart from saying ‘daddy’ or ‘mummy’ are manners. Saying “please, thank-you, and sorry” are part of our vocabulary from very early on. Saying thank you is not just good manners – it is deeply rooted in who are as Christians.

The Gospel this week narrates the story of Jesus healing the ten people suffering Leprosy. The story ends with one returning to Jesus to give thanks for curing him.

“Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.”

One would think giving thanks should come automatically to us. Training ourselves in the act of giving thanks says something profound about ourselves and our relationship with others. Giving thanks says we are interdependent and not self-sufficient. During the week, our parish celebrated two key events which highlights the spirit of this week’s Gospel: Confirmation for our Year 6 students and an Anointing Mass for parishioners and residents from aged care.

In Confirmation the children learn about the many gifts from the Holy Spirit. Each is given a particular gift that is recognised more so from our peers. Our peers recognise our gift and they do this by coming to us for advice and guidance. Our unique gift is for others! The Sacrament of Anointing helps us to recognise our common human frailty and weakness; and the need for accompaniment. It was a moving experience for me as I received a blessing from Fr Sang at the conclusion of the anointing; I was deeply humbled yet felt strengthened.

The unifying aspect of these celebrations: for children and those dealing with illnesses, is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, we not only give thanks to God but we act in unity to build up our community. On our life’s journey we are reminded of our responsibility and accountability for one another.

Gratitude goes hand in hand with joy. There can be no gratitude without joy. Those who give thanks are those who are rejoicing because they have received something that they cannot do themselves. The real joy here is not only are we physically cured but in the realisation of God’s offer of salvation. We appreciate the heart of the psalmist’s being full in these words:

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord all the earth,
ring out your joy.

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

By Fr Hoang Dinh