Nov 22, 2003 4 min read

Scripture reading: Luke 17:ll-19. Text: “So we fix our eyes not on WHAT IS SEEN, but on WHAT IS UNSEEN. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” New International Version. “And so we have no eyes for things that are VISIBLE, but only for things that are INVISIBLE; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal.” The Jerusalem Bible. 2 Corinthians 4:18. Nobody can deny that our given predicament definitely influences our Thanksgiving Day spirit. The fortunate ones have more reasons to be thankful, logically speaking, and those who ran into difficulties are rather disappointed than grateful. However, it is also true, that in abundance it is easier to be complacent and in scarcity we kneel down sooner.

LET A SHARP CONTRAST TURN OUR ATTENTION IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Our Scripture reading deals with the healing of 10 lepers. In a village, the Savior happened to meet 10 sick people who had asked for help: “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” The reply was short and clear: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” While the lepers were on their way to see the priests, they had been cured.

Only one of the 10 found his way back to Jesus to express his gratitude. When Christ saw that only one had returned to be thankful, he asked: “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine?” This question can evoke many thoughts in one’s mind, but I wish to mention only one: What makes us be thankful?

Under no circumstances would I identify anybody with the nine ungrateful healed lepers, I am sure we know better and are more polite, but rather wish to raise the question in this way, if the VISIBLE (tangible, profitable, enjoyable) will make our hearts grateful how are we with the INVISIBLE?

CAN WE DO EVEN MORE THAN WHAT THE CURED LEPER DID AND BE GRATEFUL FOR THE INVISIBLE?

Let us start with the easy ones, on which most of us will agree:

PEACE OF MIND. Why are the offices of psychiatrists, marriage counselors and doctors full? Because we have problems. At this time, it is not our primary concern who is wrong; shall we blame the economical conditions or the violence on TV but simply acknowledge the fact. We are nervous, upset, disappointed and often embittered. How many people can smile because it reflects inner tranquility, the peace of mind?

HAPPINESS WITHIN THE FAMILY, as well as among friends, neighbors and colleagues. The time will never come when everybody will earn enough and have the same personality so there will be no feud among people and war between nations. But if there is a harbor, a safe place where one can turn to from the ordeals and tempests of life, a home that is a love nest and shelter, or a sympathetic heart that understands you or a shoulder you can cry on without being blamed or criticized, you have something exceptionally great going for you.

HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE. I am sure there are millions who comfort themselves in this way: all right, I could not be successful, it is too late for me to make a bundle, but at least there is hope for my children and grandchildren that they will have a better life. We can pray that the next generation will be better off than we have been.

And as Christians can we see the “invisible blessings” and be grateful for them?

CONSCIOUSNESS. Only human beings possess this gift. We can make distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, sacred and common. See Leviticus 10:10; 1 Kings 3:9. Only man can have a contrite heart, suffer from guilt and feel the burden of remorse. Greed has caused tragedies beyond imagination, and think how many more would we be troubled if there would be no consciousness.

FORGIVENESS. This is more than a mother’s attitude toward her child. We can overlook, forget, condone, ignore and make restitution, but to forgive completely, that is to erase the whole list and never remember one single word of it, is a divine act. See Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 31:34, and Hebrews 8:12.

SALVATION. There are many petitions we include in our prayers – in the Lord’s Prayer there are seven petitions – but how many faithful have given thanks for salvation? If you read our text carefully, it is not trifle or negligible what Christ had obtained for us on the cross. Please read also 2 Corinthians 8:9.

Only if thankfulness can make us see the visible and invisible together and couple the physical with the spiritual can we sincerely and joyfully sing: “Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, . . .”

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.