Humility and Gratitude

Chapter 73
LUKE 17:5-19
The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. But He replied:
"If you have faith even like a mustard seed, you will say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
"But which of you is there, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, who will say to him on his return from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table!' But will he not say to him, 'Prepare my supper, and gird thyself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk; and afterwards thou thyself shalt eat and drink'?
"Does he thank that servant for doing what he commanded him? I do not think so. Even so you also, when you have done everything that was commanded you, say, 'We are unprofit­able servants; we have done what it was our duty to do."
At that time Jesus had completed His tour of Perea, crossed the Jordan, and was traveling southward through Samaria on His lengthy and circuitous journey to Jericho and Jerusalem.
As He was about to enter a village, He was accosted by ten lepers. They were considered as complete outcasts, and the Law strictly regulated their conduct. Calling from afar, they begged Jesus to have pity on them. Jesus replied briefly:
"Go, show yourselves to the priests."
He referred to the prescription of the Law that the cure of a leper should be certified by the priests. At that moment, indeed, the lepers saw no evidence that they had been cured. But as they went, their sores healed and their bodies were once more clean and healthy.
One of them, a Samaritan, when he saw he was healed, re­turned at once, glorifying God, and cast himself down before Christ and thanked Him. Then Jesus said:
"Were not the ten made clean? But where are the nine? Has no one been found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?"
And He said to the grateful Samaritan:
"Arise, go thy way, for thy faith has saved thee."

Humility and gratitude go hand in hand. The proud man can never be truly grateful. When I receive small favors do I really feel grati­tude in my heart or do I rather take it for granted that such courtesies should be ac­corded me? The holding of an open door, the making of a little extra room for me on a crowded bus, the kindly service of a salesgirl—do I appreciate these things and display a sin­cere gratitude, or do I sail through these experiences totally unmindful of the added effort they may be on the part of others?

The Rich Man and Lazarus

CHAPTER 72
LUKE 16:14-17, 19-31
The pharisees were offended by Christ's remarks about money, and they began insinuating that He was not sincere. But Jesus said to them:
"You are they who declare yourselves just in the sight of men, but God knows your heart; for that which is exalted in the sight of men is an abomination before God. Until John came, there were the Law and the Prophets; since then the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the Law to fail."
"There was a certain rich man who used to clothe himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted every day in splendid fashion. And there was a certain poor man, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died and was borne away by the angels into Abraham's bosom; but the rich man also died and was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime hast received good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now here he is comforted whereas thou art tormented. And be­sides all that, between us and you a great gulf is fixed, so that they who wish to pass over from this side to you cannot, and they cannot cross from your side to us.' And he said, 'Then, father, I beseech thee to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they too come into this place of torments.' And Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hearken to them.' But he answered, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hearken to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead.' "

The riches of this world perish with death. Not only are they fleeting but they are a dan­ger to the soul seeking to amass spiritual wealth. While of themselves they are good (for all things which God has made are good), it is difficult to have them and remain detached from them. And if there is not detachment, the will is not free to attach itself to God, and the end is Dives' lot—hell. Why then do I envy the rich man?