In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom talks about a time in her life that taught her to be grateful to God for everything. During the Second World War, Corrie and her sister had been hiding Jewish people in their home to keep them from the grasp of the Nazis. At one point, the Nazis discovered this and arrested them and imprisoned them at Ravensbrück, a concentration camp for women located in northern Germany.
Their barracks were extremely overcrowded and infested with fleas. One day, while reading the Bible, they read that they should rejoice in all things.
Corrie’s sister, Betsy, said, "Corrie, we've got to give thanks for this barracks and even for these fleas."
Corrie answered, "There is no way that am I going to thank God for fleas!" But Betsy was convincing, and, in the end, they did thank God for the fleas.
During the next several months, they discovered that the guards pretty much ignored their barracks and they were free to study the Bible, talk openly among themselves, and even pray together. It was their only place of refuge from the atrocities of the camp. Quite some time later, they learned that the reason the guards never entered their barracks was because of those pesky fleas!
Gratitude is an easy thing for us to forget, especially in a culture that seems to tell us that we deserve everything. Listen to how many times advertisements tell us that we deserve whatever it is they are trying to sell.
Our Gospel passage today shows us both gratitude and a lack of gratitude. The Samaritan leper recognized that his healing was a gift from God and came back to praise God and give thanks for this new lease on life. May his sense of thankfulness be an example to us that we should give thanks and praise to God for all that we have and all that we are. +
Homily for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Homily for Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent
Homily for Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent
Homily for Friday of the 1st Week of Lent
Homily for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle
Homily for Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent
Homily for Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent
Homily for Monday of the1st Week of Lent
Homily for the 1st Sunday of Lent
Homily for Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Homily for Friday after Ash Wednesday
Homily for Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Homily for Ash Wednesday
Homily for Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the Memorial of St. Scholastica
Homily for Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)