As I reflect upon
my two years here at St. Joe’s, I find that there is so much for which to be
grateful. When I’m with my priestly brothers, I find it’s easy to sing praises
about this parish.
For example, I
remember the first moment I was here on campus, as I was unloading my
belongings into the rectory, a group of American Heritage Girls greeted me with
a loving and respectful, “Hi Father,” as though I had been here for years. I
remember how a few of you gave me a bit of advice, to take care of myself and
don’t let the size of the parish get me down. Ever since then, you have continued
to wow me by your generosity and your spiritual zeal: a parish that gives so
much to all who ask; parents who are committed to a culture of life; men and
women who are doing their best to find their way to heaven and to bring others
with them. It’s for these reasons, and a thousand more like them, that I call
this place CatholicHappyLand.
And I know what some of you are thinking: Is this a
farewell homily?
No.
(You’re stuck
with me).
But it's odd, isn' it? That we hear priests praising their parish only when they
are leaving it? Well, this parish is too good for me to wait until I’m leaving it to sing its praises.
* * *
A couple of weeks
ago, I went to the second grade girls’ soccer game. And you know how those
games go: the kids are all in a bunch and the coaches try desperately to teach
the kids positioning and so on. During this game, there was one little girl who
was playing her heart out and was really a stand-out soccer player. She could
dribble, she could pass and run, and by the end of the game, she had even
scored a goal.
But for all that,
I didn’t hear much praise. Maybe 90-10—90% critique to 10% praise.
And I remembered my
own days when I was little and playing soccer. I remembered my dad and how, no
matter how hard I tried, I never felt I could get a word of praise from him.
And maybe he did say a word or two—90-10—but all I remember was that I was a
disappointment. Even though I was scoring goals.
As I left the
little girls’ game, I felt convicted. I realized that I was making the same
mistake with my children: you in the pews.
Up here at this
ambo, I spend my time, like those coaches, trying to move us into position,
trying to put us into a place where we can win. But, I forget that many of us
are already in position. Many of us are already on our way to becoming great
saints. And I don’t point that out enough.
And that’s a problem, because I know from my own time on the soccer
field that I get burned out from a game full of “move here, go there.”
This past week, I
was practicing over at Tony Glavin’s soccer fields, practicing for the annual
priests vs. seminarians “Souls and Goals” game (Wednesday, November 9th,
7pm at CBC). During the practice, one of the coaches, a
parishioner here, gave me a simple pat on the back and a word of “good work.”
It was just a couple of words, but I felt like a million bucks—I had done something right. That spurred me on for the rest of the practice.
I know that that
2nd grader on the soccer field would be a happier girl if she really believed
that she was doing something right in the sight of her father. Just a word of
praise from him, I am convinced, would lighten her heart and her feet. And light hearts and light feet translate into a better soccer player. Which is what her father wanted in the first place.
And that father
would be a happier dad if he just took a moment to realize that he has a
daughter. Who runs. Who gets to play soccer. She’s healthy. She not in the
hospital on this Saturday morning. Her battle today is with a ball and a goal.
Not with cancer. Your daughter is running today. Thanks be to God!
* * *
Psychologists and
business analysts show time and time again that people and businesses that
cultivate an environment of gratitude, appreciation, and praise have happier
people and more productive work-places.
In reflecting on
this, I found that, more often than not, when I think of things for which to praise
God, I, in turn, become a happier person and, even more, I become more apt to
see the good in others and to praise them for it. Which, in turn, helps them.
This “feeling” of
gratitude, I have found, is more powerful than all of the bad “feelings” that
come with focusing on current events.
Truly, I’ve
really come to believe that there is more good in this world than bad. There is
more good in this world than bad! And not just in the world, but in you: there
is more good in you than bad.
And we need to
know that. Because there is more to thank God for in this life than to curse
about.
And sometimes
that takes effort to remember or to believe. Sometimes it is truly hard work to
think of what is good when there is so much bad going on. Indeed, when I don’t
feel like praising God—that’s exactly the moment that I need to praise Him. To
take a breath, to think of the good, and to approach Him who heals my heart.
Yes, when I don’t feel like singing—that’s precisely the moment that I should.
* * *
Let me put a very
fine point on this: what if we were to wake up tomorrow with only those things
for which we thanked God today?
Let me repeat
that: what if we woke up tomorrow with only those things for which we thanked
God today?
* * *
And let’s take
that a little deeper.
The point of
today’s gospel is not simply that the leper comes and thanks Jesus. It’s that
all ten are healed, but only one is saved.
Our salvation is
tied up with whether or not we give thanks and praise to God. Salvation is tied
up with whether or not we throw ourselves at His feet in worship.
And this makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, we are more joyful when we are thankful; we become better people. We start to see the good in others and praise them for it; and they become better. We start to thank God more and see how much He does love us. And that brings us to hope. And “in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24).
And this makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, we are more joyful when we are thankful; we become better people. We start to see the good in others and praise them for it; and they become better. We start to thank God more and see how much He does love us. And that brings us to hope. And “in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24).
That’s why the Mass reminds us:“It is truly right and just, our duty and our
salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks Lord….”
It’s why Jesus
says to the leper who worships: “Your faith has saved you.”
And wouldn’t our
world be a better place if the course of human events were not solely predicated
upon the direction of political candidates, but upon the direction of hearts
full of thanksgiving and praise?
That starts with me.
* * *
Please join me, then, in doing a little homework. Let's think of five things for which we are thankful—five things
that we would miss if we didn’t have them tomorrow. And let's do that not only right now, but every night before we go to bed. Think of those five things. And praise God.
Then we will sing a new
song to the Lord. And we shall be saved.
