Gratitude is the Memory of the Heart

I remember many years ago, a Good Shepherd Sister (RGS) gave me a stampita bearing one of the famous lines from their Mother Foundress, St. Mary Euphrasia. It goes "Gratitude is the memory of the heart."

I recall this phrase from St. Mary Euphrasia the moment I read the Gospel for this Sunday's Liturgy. The Gospel speaks about gratitude: ten lepers were made whole but only one came back to give thanks.

Many instances in our lives we were like the nine other lepers. Many times we approached the altar of God presenting our many needs and desires. But the moment the Lord answered our prayers, most often than not we forgot to give thanks. Dear friends I believe this Gospel passage presents to us a reality that we too often overlook. We have many answered prayers but... how many times have we expressed our thanks to God, the source of all our blessings?

Maybe this Sunday is a propitious occasion for us to reflect on our countless blessings and, seize the opportunity to give thanks.