Greetings to the Koonung Heights Community,

There is a familiar gospel story where ten lepers come to see Jesus.  After affirmation from the priests that they are all healed, only one returns to Jesus to give thanks.  We are taught from a young age to say ‘please’ and ‘thankyou’, they are small words but their impact can be huge.

When the healed man comes back and says thanks, Jesus recognises that he has come to give praise to God.  So, the offering of thanks and Jesus’ response to the ‘thankyou’ has me wondering what the giving and receiving of thanks means at a deeper level than the sharing of words.

If it has something to do with praising God, then I wonder if within our words there is the recognition that whatever has happened, whether we are the recipients or bearers of grace, it has not happened because of us alone.

We have a lot to give thanks to God for.  Let us remember than when people thank us for what we have done, our ability to bring about change is often because we are walking in step with God.

Blessings –

Heather Hon (she/her)