A sermon on Luke 17:11-19
By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist
I go to Kroger so often I feel like I live there. But there was this one visit to my Eastgate Kroger that was very special. As I entered the parking lot, I was surprised to hear beautiful music being played on a violin.
Classical music filled the air. I presumed it was recorded music coming out of the loud speakers. Once inside, I complimented the manager for welcoming shoppers with music. He got this funny look on his face and said, "What music? The store isn't playing any music."
I finished shopping, went to my car, and the music was still playing. I had to find out where was this music coming from? I drove around the lot. It took me a while, but I found it. There was a young man standing on a curb playing a violin in the middle of Kroger parking lot. I parked the car, brought out my walker with a seat and sat there enthralled by the beautiful music created by his hands. He did not need any sheet music. He played from memory.
He said, "Do you have any request?"
I asked him to play Jacque Offenbach's "Can-Can" dance that chorus line showgirls use on stage. I admired how he played with such passion. His performance so touched me I offered him $20, but he refused.
"Why won't you take the money?"
He spoke with a European accent saying, "I'm a student at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. I do these one-man public concerts as a way to thank God for bringing people into my life who taught me the beauty of music. I want to pass this gift on to others."
The story of the one leper coming back to thank Jesus for healing him shows God likes to be thanked. God appreciates when you show Him gratitude for the gifts He gives you. I believe we should worship God not only with words, but also with kind deeds.
God calls us to live a life of thanksgiving. How do we do this? The grateful violinist shows the way. It's called "Pay It Forward" which is central to a life of "thanksliving."
Pay It Forward simply means to repay a kind deed by performing a kind deed for someone else. Jesus teaches that paying it forward is essential for those who have received God's forgiveness.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant concludes, “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’" (Matthew 18:32-33.)
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35.)
A life of thanksliving is based on faith in Jesus. Faith says that no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge. He watches over you with a loving care. Even Jesus, the Son of God, lived by faith in His Father.
“Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36.)
Jesus had total trust in the Supreme Being whom he called "Abba," that translates "Daddy."
Jesus paid forward the Father's Love for Him by loving you with the same Love that led Jesus to the cross. Jesus performed miracles to show the power of faith in His Daddy to whom everything is possible. Jesus pays forward that same faith to you.
There is a story of a lady who started a new diet. She altered her route to work to avoid passing her favorite bakery. She accidentally drove by another bakery. There in the window were a host of chocolates, donuts and cheesecakes. I prayed, “Lord, it’s up to You. If You want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery. And sure enough, there it was – on the 10th time around the block. God is so good!"
It's hard to wait on the Lord. Faith tells you not to give up but to hope. "Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land." (Psalm 37:34.) The land might even have a bakery on it.
Blessings to those who wait.