For several years recently, the buzzword has been “grateful.” There are all sorts of radio programs on gratefulness, thankfulness, and blessings. Talk show hosts tell us to journal three things every day that we are grateful for. You can even buy several varieties of journals with the grateful theme.

We are almost one whole week past the celebration of Easter. Yet here we are, thanking God, praising God, and singing Alleluia for his resurrection from the dead. In the responsorial Psalm, we read, “My strength and my courage are the Lord, and he has been my Savior.” We, as Christians, never tire of being grateful or thankful or telling others how blessed we are to worship a God who has promised us eternal life.

Mary Magdalene saw the risen Christ and told Jesus’ companions that he was alive…. they did not believe. Jesus again appears to two disciples, and they go and tell others, but the others do not believe either. So…. Jesus appears before the 11 at the table and rebukes them for their unbelief and hardness of heart. Jesus goes on to say, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

The question is: do you believe in the risen Lord? Now, that is a lot to be grateful for.

Father Eymard states in a letter to Mme Lepage, March 1867: “We need to live in thanksgiving which supposes a soul experiencing the joy of the Lord’s gifts and blessings.”

(Taken from A Year With Father Eymard by Father Erasto Fernandez SSS)

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, our charge from you is to tell everyone about your Son Jesus. Help us, Lord, to be bold in our hearts and speech to spread the good news with love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.