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On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus encounters 10 lepers. Leprosy was one of the most-dreaded realities of his day. It resulted in tremendous pain, had no cure, led to a long, drawn-out death, and caused religious and social isolation. Jesus looks upon them with great compassion and cleanses all 10.

Our Savior notes that only one of them returns and gives thanks. This is inconceivably sad. “Where are the other nine?” Before we start pointing fingers, this event is an invitation from Christ to look into our hearts and gauge how quick we are to return and give thanks.

First, there is the very precious gift of life itself. How much do we cherish the fact that God has granted us the great gift of sharing in his life and in his love? We can neglect or take for granted the great truth that we were made in God’s very image and likeness. We were fashioned for love — love of God and neighbor. We have been called by God to draw close to Jesus, the Word-made-flesh, sit at his feet, be healed and fed by him, and receive a new lease on life. We have been blessed with a unique set of gifts, talents, and personal graces or charisms in order to work in union with God at building up his kingdom of love and truth on this earth. For these and many more blessings, we should be people who constantly return and give thanks.

Second, Jesus heals us as well. Our Lord heals us from the far greater disease of sin. Our sins lead to great pain — the hurt we cause God through rejection, disobedience, ingratitude, pride, and self-centeredness; the hurt we cause our neighbor through lies, anger, neglect, selfishness, laziness, and gossip; and the hurt we cause ourselves by those same sins and by failing to focus on what is most important in life. When we are honest with ourselves, we can be overwhelmed with what we have done to dole out a large quantity of hurt upon our little corner of the world. Our sin, when it goes unrepented, leads to a long, slow death that is truly miserable. Only upon repenting and accepting the Father’s mercy, poured out from Jesus’ cross, are we given new life, indeed abundant life, while we journey this earth. How can we not imitate the one leper who returns and gives thanks for God’s compassion and healing?

The burning need that we all have to return and give thanks to God leads us to participate regularly at Mass. The celebration of the Eucharist is the best way we sinners can return and give thanks. The Mass is very rich in beauty and mystery. It is a sacrifice. It makes Christ truly present to us on the altar and on our tongues. It is a meal at which we are fed at the table of God’s Word and of his Body and Blood. It is a terrific way for us to gather as a family of believers to be united in a profound way with one another and in God. And, of course, it is a supreme form of thanksgiving.

We are given the opportunity to be very intentional about thanking God at Mass for his infinite blessings, and to give priority to thanking God for the saving work carried out by his only begotten Son. The focus of that thanksgiving is on the free, loving and most generous surrender of his life in loving obedience to the Father for my salvation and yours. It is no small wonder that we have named this celebration, the Eucharist (from the Greek for thanksgiving).

My mother, Nancy, was known to say on occasion, “Sharper than a serpent’s tooth is an ungrateful child.” Let’s all pledge today to be like the restored leper whose life is governed by a marked zeal to return and give thanks, especially by regular attendance at Mass.