“One of them, seeing that he was made clean, returned, with a loud voice glorifying God... giving thanks.”
En route to Jerusalem, our Savior meets ten lepers between the district of Galilee and Samaria who cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  Our Savior prescribes their cure, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”  Along the way all are cured.  Only one, however, returns to give thanks. This man, as we are told, is a Samaritan; the other nine are God’s chosen people, the Israelites (perhaps even Galileans), as inferred from, “Has no one been found to return and give thanks, except this foreigner?”  

We will speak today on giving thanks for the remedy of our ills, the Holy Eucharist.

It is a common human experience to pray with earnest for some necessity and, having once obtained it, forget to thank God for it; I prayed for the health of my grandmother, and she got better; I prayed for a rain, and it came; I prayed for the grace to endure a present hardship and I was rescued... yet in obtaining these results... I forget to pray an earnest thank you.  How earnest our petitions; how slack our thanks.

Something like this is going on in today’s gospel.  Ten lepers cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  They knew he could cure them.  His miracles were well published. And, indeed, He does cure them, but once cured the majority (90%) go away without a word of thanks.  What rudeness!

But we could ask ourselves, is this how I receive Holy Communion, the cure of my disease?  Do I receive God’s greatest gift like one of the nine or like the foreigner who returns, falls on his face, and gives thanks?

First, however, recall the three reasons for the Incarnation: Christ became man to give mankind a good example; to die upon the cross in order to redeem him; and third, Christ became man so that He could give Himself to us in Holy Communion until the end of the world.  Now of all the good things which we receive from the merciful God none surpasses Christ Himself in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar.

But, oh, how this Faith has grown cold!  It must frighten angels to see Christ so neglected in His Eucharistic Presence.  Christ chooses to prolong His presence among sinners for their good and how is He repaid?  (Reading from The Way of Divine Love, The Eucharist, March 2, 1923)

In an age of faith, it was custom in passing a Church to bless oneself, tip a hat, or make a bow... all to honor the divine Guest within.   Now how rare is the pious genuflection!  But these reverences warm the Sacred Heart; enkindle faith; provide our neighbor with good example... and need be continued.

Suppose the man on the street asks, “Why do you tip your hat every time you pass a Catholic Church?”  “Ah,” I could say, “to reverence my Savior who has chosen to dwell among mankind in the Holy Eucharist.”   By such exchanges, seeds of conversion are planted in the hearts of men.

 But let us return to our main point... thanking God for His presence among sinners finds its best expression at Holy Mass.  Let no one leave Church without giving a thanksgiving to the God chosen to become our Food in Holy Communion.  Those who leave the holy mysteries early - without some true necessity - who take Jesus and go as if He is a fast food item?; who is their patron?  The apostle Judas Iscariot also left holy Mass without a thanksgiving - but he is not our model.

So how may we make a thanksgiving?

First, recall what the Baltimore Catechism teaches Holy Communion does for me:
unites Christ to me; increases Sanctifying Grace and all manner of virtue in my soul; lessens my evil inclinations; obtains a pledge or promise of life everlasting per words of the Savior, “He that eats this Bread shall live forever”(Jn 6:59); fits my body for a glorious resurrection.

Now I can easily submit these benefits into my thanksgiving.
“O my God and Father Almighty, I give Thee thanks today that I was able to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, of Thy dearly beloved Son in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar.  May what I have received be not to me a condemnation for eternal punishment, but the means of my eternal salvation.  By this Sacrament, may I grow in friendship with Thee, the source of all that is good; obtain for myself an increase of virtue but especially that virtue which I most need, (patience, purity, fortitude, prudence, charity...); be strengthened against sinning in the future, especially against the sin of ... (i.e impatience, impurity, human respect,...); and acquire to myself a firm pledge that one day I shall be with you in Paradise for Thou hast promised me that he who eats this Bread shall live forever.  But if I have received this great Sacrament with distractions, or with less love, affection, reverence, and attention than I could have given Thee, I am sorry, I ask for Thy forgiveness, and I will do better next time.  Jesus my love, I love Thee, grant that I may love Thee always, then do with me what Thou wilt. (3X).  Amen."

Another, “Jesus my love, I give Thee thanks that I was able to receive Thee today in the most Blessed Sacrament of the altar, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.  Increase in me the faith of Thy Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.  May I receive Thee with ever increasing love, reverence, affection, and devotion so that when I pass from this life to the next Thou receive me as Thy friend.  Amen.”

Listen to the astonished Savior, “Were not ten made clean?  Where are the nine?” Oh, how many receive Holy Communion and immediately munch away without so much a pious wink! 

Witness the Samaritan’s reward, “Vade, go thy way, for thy faith has saved thee.” Not only is the Samaritan cured in his body, but for his faith and gratitude he receives a wholeness of soul. (Haydock Bible Commentary).  Thus, the thankful heart receives more favor and grace from God.

In short, the Samaritan is our model.  May we, too, give thanks to our good God, but especially when the greater gifts are received... and what is greater than Christ Himself in Holy Communion? Certainly millions of Catholics would receive with better dispositions if leprosy as much as a skin blemish could be removed by Its consumption.  Oh, how then we’d fall upon our faces in thankful praise!  But Christ desires we overcome sin and obtain virtue - more than acquire soft and smoother skin - for these alone purchase for us a happy Eternity.