Gratefulness

December 22, Thursday, 4th Week of Advent
Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Gospel – Luke 1:46-56

The first reading speaks on the gratefulness of Hannah to God for granting her prayers, in return, she offered her child back to God. While the Gospel for the day speaks of Mary's gratitude for being favored by God to become the mother of the Savior of the World. On her return, she proclaims the greatness of the Lord, especially the good characteristics of God.

We always welcome graces and blessings with an open heart. We joyfully show it to people with pride and announce these blessings. We become so engrossed with the happiness of those blessings, and we tend to share this happiness with other people.

There is a movie entitled "Pay it Forward," where the story starts with the assignment of a social studies teacher who gives an assignment to his junior high school class to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action. When one young student creates a plan for "paying forward" favors, he not only affects the life of his struggling single mother, but he sets in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness that, unknown to him, has blossomed into a profound national phenomenon.
We can express our gratitude in a variety of ways, such as Hannah in the first reading, who offers his son as a gift; Mary in the gospel, who proclaims the Lord's goodness and his works for mankind; or the child in the film, who is certain to pay it forward to others by performing acts of kindness.

The challenge for us is to always remember to pay directly back to the person who gave it to us, or we can pay it back to the other person who needs it most.

Lord, help us to always be thankful for all the good things you've given us and to give back, especially to those who have less.