Often when you ask people why they no longer practice the faith they answer, “I wasn’t getting anything out of it.” The presumption seems to be that even God is transactional. This is nothing new, of course. The Hebrew children grumbled about God when the going got rough. “Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!” Sure, you freed us from slavery, parted the Red Sea, helped us escape from the Egyptian army, God, but what have you done for me lately! What ancient Israel and modern America must learn is that the starting point is gratitude. We are constantly being blessed but most times we take it for granted. The Catholic instinct to make the heart of our worship thankgiving (= Eucharist) seems exactly right. Only a grateful heart can appreciate the ways of God in the world.
JULY262023
By Church Staff
