This Sunday’s readings invite us to rediscover the power of gratitude — not just as polite manners, but as a posture of the soul. Both Naaman the Syrian the leper in the first reading and the one leper out of ten who returned to thank Jesus in the Gospel remind us that healing is not complete until it blossoms into thanksgiving. Ten were cleansed, but only one was made whole — because awareness awakens gratitude. It was not until Naaman was healed that he saw the power of the Lord. The same was true for the one leper in the gospel who, realizing that he was healed, became grateful to Jesus and returned to say “thank you.” That gratitude leads to conversion and closer relationship with God. It opens our eyes to the goodness of God already at work within us.
Often in our lives, we are not grateful, and it takes illness or calamity to happen to us for our “eyes to be opened.” I know this has been true for my own life and the lives of many around me. I suspect it is true for yours too. It is then we beg for God to intervene and even when he does, we only temporarily turn back to the Lord in gratitude. The whole of the Christian life is about becoming aware of God’s goodness in our lives in the midst of all of our days; good and bad days alike.
Each week, when we gather around the altar for the Eucharist — literally “thanksgiving” — we are like that one leper who turned back. We, too, return to the Lord to give thanks for the healing, mercy, and quiet graces that have touched our lives — often in ways we scarcely notice. In a world filled with pain, persecution, and division, we come to remember that goodness still abounds. God’s grace continues to surprise us, in the ordinary days of lives and even in our struggles.
Our Sunday Mass is part of a weekly cycle of awareness — to see, to give thanks, and to be renewed. It keeps our hearts open to joy, and our eyes open to the presence of Christ in our midst. Gratitude is the wellspring of joy.
This spirit of thanksgiving is also reflected in the many blessings unfolding in our parish this fall. We recently began our new Confirmation sessions, and I am deeply grateful to all the parents and young people who have responded to the call to grow in faith. Thank you also to Kalena and her team for their leadership and dedication in forming our youth.
We are also blessed with 44 parishioners participating in the SEEL (Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Living) program, journeying through the rhythms of Ignatian prayer and learning to listen more deeply to Christ in their daily lives. My heartfelt gratitude to Sister Gloria and the SEEL team for guiding this beautiful work of the Spirit.
Looking ahead, I warmly invite you to our Parish Retreat, “Joy! From Gratitude to Growth,” starting at 5pm on Friday, October 24th and continuing on October 25th, which will conclude on Saturday evening, with a concert featuring Sarah Hart and Meredith Augustin — two extraordinary musicians whose songs have inspired countless hearts in prayer. We sing Sarah Hart’s music regularly here at St. Simon, including “Go in Peace,” “The Feast Meant for Everyone,” and “Drawn To You,” which will lift our souls as we celebrate how to grow from gratitude to growth, and from awareness to joy. Please invite a friend — it will be a weekend to rekindle your spirit.
That same weekend, we will also gather as a community for a Community Day of Service on Sunday, October 26th, preparing 1,000 Gifts of Joy for those in need within our community. What a beautiful way to express our thanksgiving — by becoming instruments of Christ’s compassion for others. We will need your help bundling all these donations, so please come by with your family and friends between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Donation Wishlist.
Next Saturday, October 18th at the 5:00 PM Mass, we will celebrate our annual Diocesan White Mass honoring all medical professionals — doctors, nurses, caregivers, and their families — for their tireless and often unseen service. Bishop Cantú will be with us for this special Mass, and afterward, we will host a reception for all our doctors, nurses, caregivers and families. Please join us and let us know by RSVP here.
That same evening, the Youth Ministry is hosting a dance for the Special Olympic athletes in our gymnasium, celebrating their courage, perseverance, and joyful witness. Both events are beautiful expressions of what it means to give thanks for the gift of life and the people who make our world brighter through service.
As we reflect on this Sunday’s Gospel, may we learn from that one grateful leper to “turn back” each day — to see what God has done, to say thank you, and to live in joy. Please make it a priority to come to Church each Sunday and join our community in saying thank you to God. I also ask you to take a moment to thank someone who has blessed your life recently — a teacher, a friend, a nurse, a family member, or a stranger who showed kindness. Gratitude has a way of multiplying grace.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan