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IN THIS ISSUE:

Cover Page

DEVOTION TO MOTHER MARY

by Bro. Pete Lapid

BIBLE CROSSWORD

The Father Speaks

HOW TO MAKE CONTACT WITH OTHERS

By Fr. Siegfried Binzler, SJ

Our Faith

THREE LITTLE FEATHERS

By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC

Place of Refuge

MARY'S ROLE

By Philip Yuson

Sharing

ACCOUNTING

By Sunita Dias

Surabaya Corner

OUR HEAVENLY MOTHER

By Ramon Martillano

Sharing

OUR LAST PRAYER TOGETHER

By Gina Masindo

Here's the Latest

OCTOBER DELIGHTS

By Tintin Magbitang

Reflection

GIVING GRATITUDE

Homily Sermon by Father Florianus

Catholic News

SITES AND BYTES

By Armand Sol

Saints for the Month

SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA


Meet the Staff
Catholic Links

Previous Issues


PROFILE OF THE
GENESIS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

THIS WEBSITE IS A PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE

GENESIS invites you to a special night of "GROWING IN PRAYER PASSION" with Bro. BO SANCHEZ, a Catholic lay evangelist from the Philippines - NOVEMBER 16, FRIDAY, 8PM, at the hall of Gereja Santa Maria * * * * * * * Genesis turns 6! It's the Community's biggest event ever! NOVEMBER 18, SUNDAY, whole day affair at the SHERATON BANDARA HOTEL, Cengkareng - For more info., contact TINTIN (0816-831624), ALFRED (0816-1828909) or ARMAND (0811-157249) * * * * * * *
REFLECTION ~ Homily Sermon


Gospel Sermon according to Luke 17:11-19

Formerly, in some villages in Java, if a family member got very sick and recovers, usually there is a thanksgiving gathering. During the thanksgiving gathering all the family members give thanks to God who just healed their family member and also to all the people who was instrumental in the said healing process. In the same village, after every abundant harvest there is village-wide thanksgiving gathering. Everyone give thanks for an abundant harvest. Some give thanks shown through a puppet show the whole night. If a family had a new baby, they also will not forget to hold a thanksgiving gathering. All the neighbors are invited to praise God together who have just granted them a new addition to the family.

It is not saying the least if today we also give thanks to God because we now have a new chapel, for us to listen to His word together and to celebrate our Eucharistic liturgy, a communion of God’s love.

A student I always meet always say a thanksgiving prayer to God, if he had a good day or a successful job done for the day in his daily duties. When I asked him why he does it, he explained to me that for him all the success and happiness in life are God’s gifts. That is why he give thanks to God. Someone never give proper thanks to God. He already planned and fight for every favors, success, or even happiness, so it is not from God. Even though it came from God, still God already knows it.

Isn’t it God never needs my thanks, said this friend.

In a different context the gospel today also talks about thanksgiving and gratitude. In the gospel there were ten lepers cleansed by Jesus. But only one came back to give thanks, whereas the other nine has just disappear.

Thinking about this Gospel, my first impression was it seems illogical. Even though a person is very bad, if someone gives him something good, he will give thanks. Even a criminal if you helped him will express his gratitude. But why it is not the case in this gospel? Isn’t cleansing of leprosy represent a big favor, representing a very big blessing from God? Those people are ingrates!

After I meditated deeply and silently, I began to understand. Even then I asked myself, am I not always like the people in the gospel, not giving thanks to God for all his blessings? Most of the times, did I also forgot to thank God for this gift of life? Did I not sometimes assume that God does not need any thanks from me, even though I receive lots of favors, success, happiness and life from Him? Did I not easily think that all the goodness I am experiencing come from my own efforts, and God does not deserve my thanks? How I always do the same as those nine lepers?

The question that later on strikes me was do I give enough thanks for God’s blessings? Do I give enough thanks for all God’s blessings I am receiving in my life? Even though I never forget to give thanks to Him, is my thanksgiving proper? Is my thanksgiving enough if I have prayed, celebrating mass alone in the small chapel beside my room? Is my thanksgiving enough if I already feel happy and contented?

In my further meditation, I realized that my gratitude is not enough if I pray alone. I feel that my words of thanks to God should be shown more through my life example imitating God’s ways that has been very good to me. I feel that by acting good like Him is a more meaningful thanksgiving. Only in trying to be good to other people whom He also love, will my thanksgiving be of any use? Only by trying to be a symbol and a channel of God’s love to others, my thanksgiving will be of more importance.

At the end I just felt silent in front of God. Lord, teach me how to give thanks to You.