28th Sunday Salvation = to give thanks

"It is our salvation to give you thanks"

If you have not watched the Show “The Good Place” I highly recommended it. It’s really a show of ethics and morality, and of redemption. The setting the good place, heaven, and the premise is a group of 4 people are in heaven, but one knows she does not belong, so she seeks to earn her way in.

And one other character, also realizes that she also does not belong. She raised millions upon millions of dollars for charity..a good thing. But her motivation was all wrong. She did it to compete with her sister. But in a moving scene with her sister they realized that their parents set them up to compete for their affection. They reconciled.

Children seek the attention and approval of their parents and trusted adults.
Even as babies, when they are learning, they look to their parents.
As they grow into kids we hear “Mom, Dad, Uncle Bob, Father Bob look at me!!!” as they play, try new things. They want to know they are doing good.

“It is right and our duty to give you thanks”

Seeking attention and approval is not only in children. We adults continue this too.  We do things, we act certain ways to gain attention, to prove ourselves to others.  Sometimes it’s very very obvious. Often, it happens subtly.

There is a dark side to this...those whose approval we seek, will have power over us.  And we fall into this belief that we need to do good to become good.

I remember one fellow in seminary who absolutely wanted everyone to like him. He went out of his way to earn this. He was a nice guy too. We were friends, but there was one guy who did not like him or maybe indifferent and no matter how much effort, my friend would not change him. My friend became almost driven to prove himself to this other. We in the know, just watched the show.


We are good.   We are God’s children created as Good. We do not have to earn it, nor buy it, nor deserve it. It is natural to us.  Salvation is to know this, to accept this. And the only response is thanksgiving and to act on this goodness.

We are not good because we do good things. We are not the source of our own goodness.

How did Jesus heal?  He believed in the goodness of all.  He saw beyond the surface sins, or even illnesses. He saw a child a God, a brother and sister in all.  He brought that out. God’s love brought out that inherent goodness.  Jesus healed those who had faith, those who believed in God’s goodness and their own dignity and worth. They did not have to prove themselves!

This Gospel shows this. Society excluded Lepers for physical and spiritual reasons. They equated Illness with sinfulness.  Jesus sees these ten, and sends them to the priests. Because according to the law they had to prove themselves clean before coming back to society.

The Samaritan, meaning the outsider, returned.   Why? He knew that as a Samaritan, the priests would not accept him.  But more importantly he realized the true source of healing, God’s goodness. He returns in gratitude and thankfulness  No longer will he have to prove himself to anyone. He is free.  His faith has saved him. (note present tense, not something to be experienced in the future, but it was a reality now)

Jesus reveals that we are Good people. Everyone, no matter who they are, what they have or have not done, real or imagined. No matter are created as a child of God. There is no need to prove it.

The Cross and Resurrection reveals and frees us.  The only need for us is to live it out.

“It is right and our duty to give you thanks”

All the good that we do, can do, is not to prove our worth to others, or even to God.  All the good things that we do, does not make us any better or more good.  All the prayers, the acts of forgiveness, the generosity, the mercy, the patience, the humility...all good things that we do demonstrates our goodness. The goodness that comes from God.

Do you know why the early Christians were martyred by the Romans?  Because they understood this distinction. Romans were saying to them “WE decide if you are good or not” Christians knew otherwise.  Christ was killed because the religious leaders and the political leaders said WE decide if you are good or not. 

His resurrection revealed this lie, this corruption and threatened their so called power.

How much energy do we place into proving ourselves before God and before others?  How many of us hurt ourselves by trying to make ourselves good, and when we fail, we hurt ourselves even more. How many young persons have to damage their bodies and minds?

It is our salvation to give thanks to God for creating us as Good and for freeing us from the lie that we make ourselves good or others make us good.  It is eye opening to live more freely as God’s children and truly do what is good, because we know we are good.  Energy placed into trying to convince others of our goodness, we can use for doing true goodness.  It means when we have failures, and we will, its okay. We are free to reboot because we are still a good person.

What we celebrate in the Eucharist, and why it is the source and summit is that we remember this Truth given to us by the Father, in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We remember in community, through scripture and prayer, and in the sacrament.  WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN AND WE ARE GOOD...and we give thanks.

We say “It is right and our duty to give you thanks” in every mass, in some variation. Do we hear it? Does it sink in? Does it move us to Christ?

And do we live it?

By going out those doors and living as good persons.  And helping others to know their own goodness.