Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:15-19

This year has been an unusual year to say the least. We wish that things could have been better. We hoped that everything would go back to normal as soon as possible; whatever normal means. However, this is not going to happen for a while. Maybe it will never be the same. Perhaps it is time to let go of what we think of as “normal times” and open our eyes to see what is unfolding before us. I don’t want anyone to think that I am implying that we should look at the bright side of the situation. I am implying that we should be grateful for the mere fact that we are alive. It is good to be alive. However, we must not forget that we are part of a community. Many have lost loved ones due to this disease; does this mean that they have nothing to be thankful for this year? As human beings, we need to press on as difficult as things seem. Sometimes being able to be sincerely grateful helps us release the past so that we can face the future. It helps to know that the same person who gives the strength to do this is going to be with us in the face of all the challenges that lie ahead.

The story above from the gospels tells us about ten people whose lives changed drastically because of an ailment. Nine were desperate to get back to normalcy and they got what they wanted and forget about the One who healed them. They tried to go back to something that perhaps no longer existed. In doing so, they failed to understand the something new which had happened to them. Only one realized something has drastically changed. He went back to the One who ushered in this new beginning in his Life. Being thankful is not only about appreciating what we have. It is about acknowledging that no matter what changes we have endured, may they be good or bad, they bring something new to our lives. This does not suggest that new is always good. In fact, it is indifferent and occurs regardless of whether we want it or not. God, on the hand, is present always. He is the constant, never changing no matter what we experience in Life. Sometimes we might make a deity out of our past and forget that all our false gods will eventually whither away. If we are adamant about wanting to go back to things they were, we might end bowing down at the altar of a false god. The leper from Samaria went back to thank Jesus because he realized that even though he was a foreigner and unworthy of Jesus’ mercy, Jesus healed him. The rest thought that Jesus was just there to serve and help them get back to normal. They did not see the need to be grateful.

Life for us this year has changed drastically. We are slowly beginning to establish some regularity in our lives. However, this might change again in a few months. There is no certainty. It is not the time to make concrete plans and hope that God will work according to our plans. We cannot force God to make this world a stable place. In fact, there is ample evidence in the Bible revealing that this reality is slowly deteriorating towards chaos. However, this is not a reason for us to despair. We need to see our world for what it is in order for us not to put our our hopes in it. However, beyond this chaos, there is a Light shining through and guiding us to find our path through the darkness. This Light is our contact, our Logos. The good news is that this Light is Love, as revealed to us through Jesus. Therefore, we are assured that this Light also brings healing to our souls. We need not to fear chaos anymore, albeit, we might dread it.

Giving thanks during this time helps us see beyond what it before us. It connects us to the one person that never changes in our lives. It is the one person that our children and teens have held onto through the radical changes in their lives. They have much to teach us about living our lives in these times. We are accustomed to everything being predictable. They, on the hand, survive when everything is volatile. It is no wonder that they are able to handle this situation better than us. For them, this pandemic is just one more thing in their long list of dangers that life dishes out to them. Regardless of this, they are always thankful to God for being there for them. Some might say that this is just wishful thinking or their desperation that makes them believe this. It doesn’t matter why they are grateful. The fact is that they have strength to face whatever that confronts them through their gratitude to the One whom they believe has sustained them. For this reason alone, we need to look deep within our ourselves and recognize God’s divine presence in our lives even in the worst moments of our lives this year. It is not about looking at the bright side of life. It is about recognizing His constant faithfulness which is always with us even when we are doubtful about how things will unfold in the future.