The [Christian] "doctrines" are translations into our concepts and ideas of that which God has already expressed in language more adequate, namely the actual incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection.
- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), Letters of C. S. Lewis
("First things first," as recovery groups note. How do these core beliefs help you keep things in proper perspective?)
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Sir 50:22-24; Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11; 1 Cor 1:3-9
Lk 17:11-19
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
If we were to make a list of all the moments, things, and people who give us purpose and give us joy, we might just find that we already have all we really need. In our waiting for our special intentions to be heard and answered, how many of us miss the greatest miracle of the day? Yes, the miracle that we are here, and we woke up this morning when so many did not. The miracle that we have a chance to
start afresh wrapped in God's warm and loving embrace. The miracle that we have yet another day for God to show us the beauty and vastness of our life. So, have we turned around to say thank you, Lord, for a new day, a good day?
It is so easy to forget to give thanks just for the gift of a new day. A chance to reach out to those we love, and maybe even to those who might need to know they are loved. It is a chance to enjoy and give thanks for good food, great friends, wonderful family, even from a distance, and a chance to turn around and say, "thank you, Jesus….I am well now in more ways than one." My friends, what are you
thankful for this day? Let's name those blessings, write them down, reflect on them, remember them, and keep smiling about them because when we fill our minds and hearts with gratitude, there will be no room for worry; gratitude and worry cannot share the same space in our hearts and minds. May gratitude have the upper hand today.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Poems of St. Teresa, Carmelite of Lisieux
- by St. Therese Lisieux (a873 - 1897)
My Song of Today
1.
Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee --
And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me,
To-day, dear Lord, to-day.
2.
But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings --
That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,
But only for to-day!
3.
O sweetest Star of heaven! O Virgin, spotless, blest,
Shining with Jesus' light, guiding to Him my way!
O Mother! neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,
For this brief passing day!
4.
Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
And then my lips shall sing, to heaven's angelic lyres,
The eternal, glad To-day!
June, 1894.
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