Many people pooh, pooh the story of Adam and Eve as a polite fairy tale that is rather entertaining. In reality, this is a story about ourselves. The great fault of the first woman and man was that they wanted to be their own god. They wanted to be all-powerful and do their own thing – and answer to no one but themselves.
This is the most serious form of idolatry; that is, making false gods. Giv\ing our service to the false deity.
The truth of the matter is that all creation comes from the very hand of God. Every part of the cosmos, every bacteria and every human being is an extension of the love and compassion of the Creator God. And this makes everything a gift.
If all of life is a gift, there is only one correct response to the Creator God. It is gratitude. Nothing is owed to us. All is gift. Every breath that we are taking at this very moment is a gift. All moments of our life call for gratitude, thanksgiving and joy. Take one deep breath at this very moment. What a gift! What power to enjoy and appreciate the gift of our life – no matter how short or long it may be.?
This is why everyone needs a correction to the life of prayer. Everyone needs to once again study the spirituality they claim to be living.
All our prayer must begin with gratitude for all the blessings that we have received. The very fact that we were conceived in the womb of our mother, that we were raised, educated into adulthood is truly a gift. This was never owed to us. Every friend that we have is blessing.
And then our God, poured out the love and mercy of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The outstretched hands on the cross are a sign of the love of God embracing everyone: the good, the miserable and all the sinful. There is no limit to the goodness of God towards humanity.
This is why this Sunday’s gospel reading ( Luke 17, 11-19) is such a gift to us. The ten lepers (outcasts to that society) experience a healing at the hands of Jesus. Only the stranger , i.e., the Samarian, comes back to thank Jesus. He realized how his life has been gifted. There is only one response: joy and thankful praise.
This is how we must pray. Take all and every blessing of your life; this is first and foremost the gift of God. Burst into song and joy. How wonderful the first morning light is. How joyful the hug of your grandchildren. How strong the presence of God when you turn toward prayer.
Begin every prayer in gratitude – and continue in gratitude singing for joy
