Dearly Beloved, "You can be anything you want in this world, just don';;t be ungrateful". This reality is seen in our readings today (2Kings 5:14-17 and Luke 17:11-19). Naaman and the Samaritan expressed their gratitude for blessings and healing received. How often do you also express gratitude? Or you only count the things not yet received?

Gratitude should be a natural garment that we put on daily after waking up to see a new day, dressing up, making up and before stepping out for a new day';;s task. The musician, Jim Reeves, puts it clearly in his song: "We thank thee each morning for a new born day, where we may work the fields of new mown hay, we thank thee for the sunshine and the air that we breath O Lord, we thank thee...We thank Thee every day as we kneel and pray; that we were born with eyes to see these things..."

 That you see another day is enough miracle to say, "Thank you Lord" for. (Make it your Habit). Sing: "Count your blessings name them one by one"/ "Ti a ba ni ki a ka ore Oluwa, ile asu, ile amo". Note: 2Cor.4:15 tells us, "For the greatness of God';;s love we cannot but live in overflowing gratitude". Col.4:2 says,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful". Sing: "All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, so, thank the Lord...for His Love". Also 1Chronicles 16:34 charges us to, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever". In spite of being outnumbered, the grateful Samaritan carried the day by getting saved too. It pays to be grateful dear ones. The Yorubas say, "Eni ti oba dupe ore ana..."/ "Ti Eru ba mo inu ro...". To give thanks in all situation is what God expects us to do (1Thess.5:18)

Since all we have and all we are, we owe to God; why is saying ';;Thank you Lord';; such a problem? Why are you forced or reminded to do Yearly Family Thanksgiving? Let us make gratitude essential part of our Christian lives.

You can just add gratitude to your name from today; for instance, Stephen ';;Dayo Gratitude Balogun. We are all children of God by the fact of our baptism into Christ. Be careful never to join those who only turn to God in moments of trials (Jesus! Master! Take pity on me); and forget Him when things go well. Must you be part of the other nine ungrateful ones? "What shall I say unto the Lord, all I have to say, thank you Lord."

Finally, the Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer of thanksgiving. Be active at it! During the Holy Mass we used to pray, "Lord, we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you". Let us go on our knees this new week and thank God that we are still standing, despite our unworthiness. Make a Change. Be different. Stand out!!! Sing:

"He has done for me...what my father cannot do...” God bless us all. Be ever grateful!!!

Fr. Stephen Balogun