13th Sunday after Pentecost 18.8.13 Thanksgiving
When we ask God for something there are two levels to what we ask, a more immediate need, and then something deeper.
The more immediate need is seen in things like: I am hungry – I need food; I am unemployed – I need a job; I am in danger – I need safety....
The deeper need is something that we might miss altogether but is always there: I need to be in union with God; I need to draw closer to Him.
This is actually more important than the particular thing we are asking for. (If we don't see this then all the more reason we have the need.)
Our whole earthly life is based on this: We are here to know, love and serve God. The other things are just details by comparison with that overall objective. It is more important to be in union with God than to have food or money or health etc. No matter how urgent these needs are I still should want union with God more.
We don't have to mention this need every time we pray but just to understand the need is there. And if I don't get the thing I ask for the deeper part of the prayer will always be addressed. When we pray to God for anything He will always bring us closer to Himself.
So we can understand the story of the ten lepers. Our Lord gave them two blessings: freedom from leprosy, which was the lesser blessing; and the gift of faith, the greater blessing.
Only one of the ten accepted the second blessing. In thanking Our Lord for his healing the one leper activated the gift of faith; he saw things in a new light and his life was changed. His soul was healed as well as his body.
If we receive a blessing from God we should thank Him. This is not just good manners. It is necessary to thank Him so that the fulness of His bounty to us will take root.
Our thanksgiving includes the deeper element. We are not just grateful for the particular blessing but also that God has acted in our lives; has invited us to come closer to Him. We thank Him simply for being what He is, for being there all the time, for knowing what is best.
Thus we grow in understanding. This in turn will make us more perceptive and accurate in what we ask for, more able to recognise blessings, even in adversity.
The asking and the thanking become all merged in together like a busy office with the memos coming in and out. We thank for the last blessing as we make the next request. The line is always busy!
We can even thank God for hearing the next request... Father I know You always hear Me (John 11, 42)
It is like a love relationship where the two parties interact freely, constantly giving and taking, asking and receiving. If we are close to God this is how it will work. Our thanksgiving is not stiff or formal but joyful and spontaneous
If a prayer is not answered we can still be strong enough in faith to be grateful to God in the more general sense – that He has lost none of His goodness. If we were not blessed one way it will come in another way, and better still. We thank Him for His activity and see His blessings unfold.
We do this as the whole Church and as individuals. As the Church we pray for big items like the conversion of the whole society, peace on earth, no more killing and hatred - and we expect that these things will happen; and would happen a lot faster if there was more thanksgiving going on.
The more thanksgiving there is the more spiritual power is released. (Cf 2 Cor 9,12, the effect of almsgiving is not only to help in need but to increase the level of thanksgiving.)
Less complaining, less bitterness, less jumping ship - and we will see a much more vibrant Church, and happier world.
For which we can give thanks!
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