Hey Jesus, Make Up Your Mind!
Don’t you love dealing with folks who often contradict themselves? You have certainly met the type. The person holding one position until deemed unpopular, and then he does a complete public about face. (And please do not only blame politicians for doing this!) Or how about the person(s) whose reactions you can never trust. The ones who grumble at you that he or she doesn’t want to be thanked for doing this-or-that, and yet God help you if you do not thank them as they will complain that they are taken for granted all the time.
The past two Sundays, the gospel accounts found in our Episcopal lectionary have this kind of contradictory tone. On Oct. 6, a passage was read where Jesus specifically taught that when you do what ought to do, when you act in a charitable or just fashion in accord with what we are called to be and do as believers, don’t go looking for thanks. In fact, we are to believe that “we are worthless slaves. We have only what we ought to have done.” (Luke 17:10) On the other hand, the very next verse which begins the well-known reading this coming Sunday (Oct. 13) takes us into an incident where Jesus has healed 10 lepers, and he notes about the one who had enough time to thank Him: “Then Jesus asked, ‘were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?’” (Luke 17:18).
So what’s the point? Are we being blamed for seeking gratitude or for not offering it or both? You want to make up your mind?
As one who tries to thank others but knows that at times I fail to do so because I forget or get distracted or simply did not appreciate all the nuances of the work that was done by this or that person while at the same time I always get uncomfortable accepting the gratitude of others (usually because I am always looking for a hidden ulterior motive in people – sorry that’s just the way my DNA was programmed – for better or worse I am Tony Campo’s oldest son with too many of his traits), I confess that it has taken me years to come to an understanding of what the Lord was trying to teach us. In fact, God doesn’t need our gratitude. God is God. And acting in a loving and giving fashion towards others ought not be done to receive praise.
It’s not about seeking gratitude but giving it. Reread the great prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Offering pardon or thanks is what makes us great in God’s eyes. While receiving such makes me feel better, doing such makes me grow closer to God. I might feel good when I receive recognition, but I do better to give it. That’s what we’re being taught.
Fr. Joe