When
Peter Claver met people from Africa in Cartagena in the 1600s, who had been
cruelly captured and transported across the Atlantic into slavery, he offered the
only things he had; fruit and aromatic spices. He wrote later that the look in
their eyes spoke of a deep gratitude which touched him profoundly. It was the
first time anyone had shown kindness to them since the day they were snatched
from their homes.
To
say “thank you” is to acknowledge that we are related to one another. When a
child is old enough to feed herself she is quickly taught to say those words.
It is the first lesson we learn. To simply take without a word is to assert a
weird independence that nowhere exists. Those two little words are a sign, in
religious terms, a sacrament, celebrating our oneness.
You
can sense the offence Jesus felt when nine out of ten people, whom he had cured
of leprosy, didn’t bother to say, “Thank you.” They didn’t think it was
necessary. Could it be that nine out of ten people get off a bus, leave a
dining room or an airport or a store or an office, without a word to those who
have served them? Could it be that a husband or a wife leave these words
unspoken? Do children leave school without acknowledging their teachers? To say
‘thank you’ is to savour the service rendered and to build a bond – however
transitory – with the one who serves
Naaman
the Syrian was cured by Elisha and wanted to give the prophet rich gifts to
thank him. It seems he was uncomfortable to be in the prophet’s debt and wanted
Elisha to thank him – not the other way around. Perhaps I do Naaman an
injustice? I once had an accident on a motor bike in Gutu. A ‘Samaritan’ carried
me in his ox cart for five miles to Mutero Mission. I tried to thank him with a
gift of money but he would not accept it. I immediately realised I had offended
him. All he wanted was a word of thanks to affirm our relationship. Payment
would have kept us strangers. You cannot ‘pay’ for an act of kindness.
“The
night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and after he had given
thanks, he broke it.” (1 Cor. 11:23-24). Jesus represented every human being in
giving thanks to God for life, for every relationship and for every experience
that hones that relationship and prepares us to receive the fullness of life.
In so doing he accepts the cost of that relationship and all the responsibility
that goes with it. It is the most magnificent ‘Thank you’ ever uttered and its
impact creates a ripple effect in every place and time.
9 October 2016 Sunday 28 C
2 Kings 5:14-17 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11=19
