Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time C. October 10, 2004. Our Lady of Grace, all Masses. Stewardship Sunday. 2 Kings 5: 14-17. 2 Timothy 2: 8-13. Luke 17: 11-19.

A recent study of successful people affirmed again that attitude is the most important element of success, not IQ, not innate skills, not even opportunities. The attitude we take toward ourselves and the world around us is the most important factor in what we make of our lives.

The ten men in today’s Gospel were all cured of the dread disease of leprosy. Only one of the ten was healed at the very core of his being. The others went away cured, with little apparent reflection about how that happened. They were now physically healthy, but little else happened to them that would enrich their lives or point them in a new direction.

The man who returned to praise God and thank Jesus was moved in the depth of his soul. He now saw himself differently and his relationship to God differently. He needed to say that he was thankful. He wanted to worship God. From that moment on thanksgiving would guide his life and worship and gratitude would shine forth from everything he did. Ten men were physically healed – only one man became a new person at the very depth of his being.

Today Jesus invites us to be a completely new person. Jesus invites us to look at our lives honestly and to let our gratitude to God irrupt into a great hymn of thanksgiving. Jesus invites us to a spirit of worship and gratitude that puts a smile on our faces even in the dark days of life. A spirit of worship, thanksgiving and generosity is the joy that Jesus wants to give us. I dare say that there is no joy like the joy or hear filled with worship generosity and thanksgiving. As people eager of true joy, I invite you to listen to Greg Schmidt, the chair of our parish finance committee.

(Greg Schmidt speaks)

Our Lady of Grace is an anchor of goodness in a troubled world. This is a faith-filled and loving community. At Our Lady of Grace all are made to feel welcome. All are embraced by God’s love. Here we learn to worship God, to serve one another and to reach out to the poor. If I had an hour to speak, I could not tell you all the ways that I am blessed to be a member of this parish community. I am deeply grateful for your role in giving us the gift of Our Lady of Grace parish. Thank you! Thank you! Just like you, I contribute to the financial support of this parish from my own financial resources. Last year I discovered that automatic bank debit is a helpful way to budget and given to this parish I truly love. When my salary is deposited in the bank twice a month, the very first payment out is to Our Lady of Grace in gratitude for what God has given me. I like the feel of that. I have heard what the head of the finance council said. I will increase my gift to the parish by 6% immediately. It is a small gift to God for all that I have received.

I ask that you please be generous to Our Lady of Grace. Please return your stewardship pledge cards as soon as you are able to do so. God bless you and thank you for all that you do to make this parish glow in the light of Christ..