10/12 Homily St. Peter Catholic Church, Geneva

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude Deepens Our Relationship with Christ

Just as the Samaritan leper returned to thank Jesus after being healed, we are invited to recognize that true salvation and a deeper relationship with the Lord come when we return to Him in gratitude. It is not enough to simply receive God’s gifts; we are called to come back, acknowledge His goodness, and give thanks, which opens our hearts to a more profound experience of His love and presence. In doing so, we move beyond a transactional faith and enter into a living, grateful relationship with Christ. [01:04]

Luke 17:15-19 (ESV)
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally thanked Jesus for a specific gift or grace in your life? How might you return to Him in gratitude today?

Day 2: The Eucharist as Thanksgiving

The very heart of our worship—the Eucharist—means “to give thanks,” and every time we participate in Mass, we are joining Jesus in His act of thanksgiving to the Father for us. This is not just a ritual obligation but a living invitation to enter into Christ’s own gratitude, uniting our lives, joys, and struggles with His perfect offering. Recognizing this transforms our experience of Mass from mere duty to a profound encounter with God’s saving love. [02:23]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Reflection: How does knowing that the Eucharist is an act of thanksgiving change the way you approach Mass this week?

Day 3: Giving Thanks in Every Circumstance, Even in Suffering

We are called to give praise and thanks to God not only for the blessings but also for the crosses and difficulties we face. This act of gratitude, even when it is hard or through gritted teeth, opens us to God’s transforming work and helps us trust that He is present and active in every circumstance, using even our struggles to draw us closer to Him. [04:23]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one cross or difficulty you are facing right now that you can thank God for today, trusting that He is at work through it?

Day 4: Offering Our Lives at the Altar

At every Mass, especially during the offertory, we are invited to bring all that we are—our gifts, graces, and even our struggles—and place them on the altar for Jesus to transform. Nothing we offer to God in gratitude is wasted; He deepens our relationship with Him and uses even our hardships to help us grow in trust and faith, making our lives a living sacrifice united with Christ. [06:17]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: What is one specific gift or struggle you can consciously offer to God at Mass this week, asking Him to transform it?

Day 5: Gratitude Transforms Us and Draws Others to Christ

As we practice daily gratitude for both the gifts and the crosses in our lives, we are transformed to become more like Christ, and our faith deepens. This transformation not only brings us closer to salvation but also becomes a witness that draws others to the Lord, as they see the peace and joy that gratitude brings into our lives. [09:08]

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection: Who in your life might be encouraged or drawn to Christ by witnessing your gratitude, especially in difficult times? How can you share that gratitude with them this week?

Sermon Summary

Sin, like leprosy in the Gospel, touches every one of us. We all carry wounds and brokenness that only Christ can heal. Yet, the story of the Samaritan who returns to thank Jesus after being healed reveals something deeper: healing is not the end, but the beginning of a relationship. Salvation is offered to all, but it is gratitude—returning to Christ with thanksgiving—that draws us into a deeper communion with Him. Too often, we focus on what is lacking or difficult in our lives, missing the subtle graces and gifts God pours out daily. Our human tendency is to dwell on the negative, but God invites us to see with new eyes, to recognize and give thanks for His constant presence and mercy.

The very heart of our faith, the Eucharist, is an act of thanksgiving. Every Mass is an invitation to join Jesus in giving thanks to the Father, not just for the blessings, but for the crosses as well. This is not always easy. Sometimes, giving thanks in the midst of suffering feels unnatural, even forced. Yet, as we practice gratitude—even through gritted teeth—God meets us where we are. He transforms our offerings, both joys and sorrows, into deeper grace. The offertory at Mass is a powerful moment to unite all that we are experiencing—our gifts and our struggles—with Christ’s own sacrifice.

As we grow in gratitude, our relationship with God matures. Prayer becomes less transactional and more about trust—trusting that God knows what is best for us, even when we do not understand. The lie that God has abandoned us in our suffering is dispelled as we learn to see every circumstance as an invitation into Christ’s own life of thanksgiving and trust. Each day, we are called to recall God’s gifts and even thank Him for our crosses, asking for the strength to carry them with Him. In this way, our faith is deepened, our hearts are transformed, and we become witnesses of salvation to others.

Key Takeaways

1. Sin is a universal affliction, but Christ’s healing is offered to all. Like the lepers in the Gospel, we are invited not just to receive healing, but to return to Jesus in gratitude, which opens the door to a deeper relationship and salvation. [00:33]
2. Our natural inclination is to focus on what is lacking or difficult, often overlooking the daily graces God gives. Cultivating gratitude requires intentionality—choosing to notice and thank God for both the obvious and the subtle gifts in our lives. [01:53]
3. The Eucharist is the heart of thanksgiving. Every Mass is an opportunity to unite our joys and our crosses with Christ’s sacrifice, allowing Him to transform them into deeper grace and trust. This act of offering changes our perspective and draws us closer to God. [05:37]
4. Giving thanks in suffering is a profound act of trust. Even when gratitude feels forced or unnatural, offering our crosses to God allows Him to work transformation in us, deepening our faith and helping us to trust in His love and providence. [04:23]
5. As we grow in gratitude, our relationship with God matures from transactional requests to a deeper trust in His will. Recognizing that God is present in every circumstance—especially in our crosses—frees us from the lie of abandonment and draws us into the very life of Christ. [07:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Sin, Leprosy, and the Need for Healing
[01:04] - The Deeper Call: Gratitude and Salvation
[01:25] - Our Tendency to Overlook God’s Gifts
[01:53] - Focusing on Graces Amidst Negativity
[02:23] - The Meaning of Eucharist: Thanksgiving
[02:59] - Entering the Sacrifice of Love
[03:42] - Learning to Give Thanks Throughout the Day
[03:55] - Trusting God in Every Circumstance
[04:23] - Giving Thanks for Our Crosses
[05:17] - Christ’s Example and Our Transformation
[05:37] - The Offertory: Offering All to God
[06:17] - God Transforms What We Offer
[07:01] - Moving Beyond Transactional Prayer
[07:17] - Trusting God in Suffering
[07:47] - Daily Practices of Gratitude
[08:49] - Faith Deepened Through Thanksgiving
[09:08] - Living Out Gratitude and Salvation

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: Gratitude, Healing, and Trusting God in All Circumstances**

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### Bible Reading

**Luke 17:11-19 (ESV)**
> On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

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### Observation Questions

In the story of the ten lepers, what did Jesus ask them to do, and what happened as they obeyed?
What was different about the Samaritan leper’s response compared to the other nine?
According to the sermon, what does the act of returning to give thanks reveal about the Samaritan’s relationship with Jesus? [[01:04]]
How does the sermon describe our natural tendency when it comes to noticing God’s gifts in our lives? [[01:53]]

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus highlight the fact that only the Samaritan returned to give thanks? What does this say about gratitude and faith?
The sermon says that healing is not the end, but the beginning of a relationship with Christ. What does it mean for gratitude to open the door to deeper communion with God? [[01:04]]
The Eucharist is described as the “heart of thanksgiving.” How does participating in the Mass help believers unite their joys and crosses with Christ? [[02:23]]
The sermon mentions that giving thanks in suffering is a profound act of trust. Why might it be difficult to thank God for our crosses, and what transformation can happen when we do? [[04:23]]

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### Application Questions

The sermon points out that we often focus on what is lacking or difficult, missing the daily graces God gives. This week, what are some subtle gifts or graces you may have overlooked? How can you intentionally notice and thank God for them? [[01:53]]
When was the last time you thanked God for a difficult situation or “cross” in your life? What would it look like to practice gratitude even when it feels forced or unnatural? [[04:23]]
At Mass, during the offertory, we are invited to offer both our joys and struggles to God. What is one specific joy and one specific struggle you can bring to God this week? How might this change your experience of the Mass? [[05:37]]
The sermon says that as we grow in gratitude, our relationship with God matures from transactional requests to deeper trust. Are there areas in your prayer life where you tend to treat God like a “vending machine”? How can you shift toward more trust and thanksgiving? [[07:01]]
The “big lie” is that God has abandoned us in our suffering. Have you ever felt this way? How does remembering Christ’s own suffering and thanksgiving help you combat this lie? [[07:17]]
The pastor suggests a daily practice: recalling the graces of the previous day and thanking Jesus for them, as well as naming your cross and asking for strength. Would you be willing to try this practice for a week? What do you hope might change in your heart or perspective? [[07:47]]
The sermon ends by saying that gratitude for both gifts and crosses draws others to Christ. Can you think of someone in your life who models this kind of gratitude? What impact does it have on those around them? [[09:08]]

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Sermon Clips

All of us, right, experience the kind of illness of leprosy insofar as that's what sin really is, right? So all of us are affected by it in this regard. And Jesus comes to heal us, right, through that obeying of His Word, right? We receive that healing, but there's a deeper point to it. And the Samaritan who comes back to give thanks to Christ for that healing shows us, right, it's salvation, that deeper relationship with the Lord. So the Lord offers that to every person in this world, right? He offers salvation. He offers his healing. But really, to enter deeply into that relationship with him, we have to give thanks. We have to come back to Christ in that way. [00:00:14] (54 seconds) #HealingThroughGratitude

We're entering into this great sacrifice of love that Christ has offered for us so that we could receive salvation, so that he could save us from the sin that we brought into the world and open up for us the gates of heaven. That's what's happening at every Mass. [00:03:14] (16 seconds) #SacrificeOfLove

As I started to grow in my understanding of what's happening here and giving thanks to the Lord, I was able to begin to understand how to give thanks throughout the day. Right. And so it turns out that you can actually give thanks to God even for your crosses. I know, right. Because there is a. There's a great gift of the divine mercy, Right. With Saint Faustina. [00:03:31] (24 seconds) #ThanksInCrosses

To trust God is to give him praise and thanks in every circumstance. And I was like, okay, well, the good circumstances are very easy to do that. What about those other ones? Right. How do I give praise and thanks to God in the midst of the crosses? Well, through gritted teeth usually is how I do it. I don't know. You could. You probably might be a little better at it. But I praise and thank you, God, for this cross. And you're shaking your head the whole time. Yeah. He takes it. Right. He takes us where we are. [00:04:17] (33 seconds) #PraiseThroughTrials

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