Acknowledge God for all His Benefits

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday of 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, and the Memorial of St. Leo the Great, November 10th, 2021
Texts: Wisdom 6: 1-11; Ps.  82:3-4, 6-7; Luke 17:11-19
Today's readings remind us to always acknowledge God and give Him honour and glory for the benefits of life. The first reading challenges the rulers who do not acknowledge that dominion with power and authority is from God. The reading reveals the reality of human condition. Sometimes we take for granted the gift of health. Some people do not acknowledge that health is a gift of God until they are sick. The food we eat, it is possible to take it for granted that it is not God's gift to us; we might think that it is by our power that we get it. It is also possible to take for granted sleep! We will not know that it is the Lord’s doing until we have insomnia. They are so many things like that which we take for granted and refuse to acknowledge God for them. We need to give God credit, honour and glory for everything He has done.
Let us live our lives in such a way that shows that we acknowledge God. For we cannot claim to acknowledge God for His goodness to us when we are disobedient to Him. This is clear in the following words of today's first reading: "Listen, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations. For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into your plans. Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God". The wise tells us that the rulers do not acknowledge that dominion is from God because they do not rule rightly nor keep His law, nor walk in line with His purpose. If we acknowledge that our life is from God, we will live according to His purpose. If we acknowledge that speech is from God, we will not speak evil of others.
The reading also shows that those who are in position of authority will face strict judgment. It is said, "For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested. For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, nor show deference to greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike. But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty." This should strike fear in the hearts of those who are in the position of authority and thus learn to use them well. Hence, the wise says, "To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, that you may learn wisdom and not transgress."
Nine lepers out of ten in today's gospel reading did not come back to thank God. The reading shows that the nine lepers were Jews. We might ask why they did not come back to thank God. Perhaps, they did not acknowledge their healing to come from God. Perhaps, they thought it was as result of their work for God and so they deserved it. The message, today, is that, until we acknowledge God for all the benefits we have, we will not be thankful to Him. Let us always acknowledge God for the benefits we enjoy in life.

Lord our God, we acknowledge you for all the benefits of life which we enjoy, may Your Spirit always move us to be thankful and to live according to Your purpose. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke