Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

Though Naaman was initially hesitant to follow the prophet’s instructions,
once he did,
he experienced the healing power of God
and couldn’t help himself but to be grateful
for the miracle that had occurred.
He had come to Israel with leprosy,
but was returning home with two carts full of Israel’s earth
so that he could offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
over and over again
on the land where God had worked wonders in his life.

 

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

The Psalmist, too, sings a new song,
for God has done wondrous deeds.
We joined him in giving thanks because
the Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.

 

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

St. Paul,
in chains, like a criminal,
is still thankful for the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.
Though a prisoner,
he bears with everything for the sake
of those who were chosen.

He had been an enemy of Christ,
and yet Christ chose him
to be an apostle to the Gentiles.

Christ blessed him,
though he once persecuted
those who followed his way.

 

Paul had learned to be grateful for what God had done for him
and for all those to whom he had been sent.

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

Only one of the ten who had experienced
the healing power of God
at work in Christ,
came back to Jesus to give thanks.
Yet even those who did not return to give thanks
were cured by Christ’s love and power.

 

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

Today, I am reminded by today’s reading
of something one of my formation director said
when I was studying for the priesthood.
Fr. Paul White would often say that we needed to have
an attitude of gratitude.

Today’s scriptures call us to do just that.
We must always have that attitude of gratitude,
always live with a spirit of thanksgiving.

 

Everything we have comes from God.

 

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

Every time we gather here,
we gather to give thanks.
The very word Eucharist means giving thanks.
This is our thanksgiving feast.

 

Today, we join with Naaman, the Psalmist,
St. Paul and the Samaritan who had been cured
in giving thanks.
We may not have been cured of leprosy,
but God has been good to us on many occasions.
And whether today is one of them or not,
we gather here to give thanks!

 

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!

I just want to thank you, Lord!

 

You've been so good,

been so good,

been so good!
I just want to thank you, Lord!