The Giver

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111225.cfm

The daily challenge placed before us in scripture is to be able to see the thread that weaves the Old and the New Testament together. Today is a day when this might not easily be seen. When that happens, we can be tempted to just say 'Oh Well'. I often think of these days as a challenge issued.

In our Original Testament reading from Wisdom, we hear repeatedly that God will judge them harshly because they are in powerful positions, unlike the poor and lowly who will receive mercy from God. "For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test." Well, this certainly doesn't bode well for many in power today. These thoughts and images can seem hard to connect with the Gospel where Jesus heals ten lepers, unless we catch this early line: "Because authority was given you by the Lord."

This is certainly the thread, right? Gratitude is at the very core of these readings. I think that the story of the ten lepers helps us to see a very important distinction, which is made by the line from Wisdom that I highlighted: Being grateful is good, praising God for goodness is what is required. I think that many in power are grateful that they are in power. They might be grateful to 'fate' or 'luck' or grateful for their hard work, or shrewd decision-making. We would be foolish to assume that the nine other lepers are not grateful to be healed. They are probably ecstatic. The question is: have they traced the source of the goodness, the source of the healing back to Jesus, back to God? Are they actively praising the Giver of All Good Gifts for what has happened to them?

If we were somehow able to track every personality trait, talent, gene, experience, relationship, etc. we would certainly find that all of these good things would all ultimately come from one source: God. He is the Giver. It is worth our effort every day to pray in gratitude for this.