Coming Back to Say Thank You
Catholic Homily for November 12, 2025
Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Luke 17:11–19
Have you ever received an amazing gift or help from someone, felt grateful in the moment, but then got busy with life and never actually went back to say thank you? We’ve all been there. We mean to express our gratitude, but somehow we just keep moving forward without looking back.
Jesus tells a story about ten men with leprosy – a horrible skin disease that forced them to live apart from everyone else. When they saw Jesus coming, they cried out from a distance: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests (who would officially declare them clean). As they walked away, something amazing happened – their leprosy disappeared completely.
But here’s the shocking part: only one of the ten came back to thank Jesus. And he wasn’t even Jewish – he was a Samaritan, someone the Jews normally avoided. This man ran back, fell at Jesus’ feet, and praised God loudly. Jesus asked, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”
To the grateful Samaritan, Jesus said something special: “Rise and go; your faith has saved you.”
The Difference Between Healing and Salvation
All ten lepers got healed – their bodies were completely restored. But only one got something more. The healing began on the road as they walked to the priests. But salvation happened when the Samaritan returned and threw himself at Jesus’ feet.
Gratitude did more than just say “thank you.” It recognized who Jesus really was – not just a healer, but God himself. When the Samaritan came back, he entered into a relationship with Jesus. His gratitude closed the gap between them.
Ten men stood at a distance because of their disease. One man drew near because of his gratitude. The others got their physical healing and went on with their lives. But the one who returned received both healing and salvation.
Saint Josaphat’s Life of Gratitude
Saint Josaphat shows us what a life of gratitude looks like. He was a bishop in the Byzantine tradition in the early 1600s in what is now Ukraine and Belarus. At that time, there was serious division between Eastern and Western Christians. Many people were angry, suspicious, and unwilling to work together.
But Josaphat spent his entire life working for unity in the Church. He believed that Christians should be grateful for what they shared, not bitter about their differences. He crossed suspicion with mercy, answered division with faithfulness, and responded to hatred with Christ’s own love.
This commitment to unity and gratitude eventually cost him his life. On November 12, 1623, he was murdered by people who opposed his efforts to bring Christians together. He literally gave his blood for communion – for the unity he believed God wanted among his people.
Like the grateful leper who came back to Jesus, Josaphat didn’t just receive God’s gifts and walk away. He spent his whole life saying “thank you” through service, sacrifice, and love.
What Separates Us from God and Each Other
Leprosy separated those ten men from society – they had to live apart because their disease was contagious. But there are other things that separate us today. Sin and pride separate our hearts from God and from each other.
We can be “healed” of our immediate problems but still remain distant from God. We might get the job we wanted, recover from an illness, or solve a family crisis, but then forget to thank God and draw closer to him.
We can also stay separated from other people because of grudges, misunderstandings, or pride. We avoid certain family members, hold onto anger against friends who hurt us, or look down on people who are different from us.
But gratitude and reconciliation can bring us back – both to Jesus and to one another. When we recognize God as the source of all good things in our lives, we naturally want to draw closer to him. And when we’re grateful for God’s forgiveness, we find it easier to forgive others.
Three Ways to Return Today
Return to God – Name one specific blessing in your life and give thanks aloud at the foot of the Cross. Don’t just think about it – actually speak your gratitude out loud, whether in church, at home, or wherever you are. Be specific: “Thank you, God, for my health,” or “Thank you for my family,” or “Thank you for getting me through that difficult time.” Like the Samaritan leper, fall at Jesus’ feet in gratitude.
Return to the Church – Seek confession or reconcile with someone you’ve been avoiding. If you haven’t been to confession in a while, go. If you’ve been angry with someone or holding a grudge, reach out to them. If you’ve been avoiding church or staying distant from your faith community, come back. Unity was so important to Saint Josaphat that he died for it.
Return to mission – Thank God by serving someone on the margins. The best way to show gratitude for God’s gifts is to share them with others, especially people who are forgotten or pushed aside. Visit someone who’s lonely, help someone who’s struggling, or volunteer with people who need assistance. Let your thanks turn into action.
Don’t Stop at the Healing
The nine lepers who didn’t return weren’t ungrateful people – they were probably happy about being healed. They just got caught up in their new lives and forgot to go back and thank the one who made it possible.
We can make the same mistake. We might pray when we’re in trouble, receive God’s help, and then get so busy enjoying our improved situation that we forget to maintain our relationship with God.
Let us not stop at cleansing – the solving of our immediate problems. Let us come back to adore – to recognize God as the source of all good things and enter into deeper relationship with him.
When we do this, we hear not only “You are healed” but also “Rise and go; your faith has saved you.” We receive not just the solution to our current problem, but eternal life with God.
Like Saint Josaphat, who spent his life building bridges instead of walls, we can let our gratitude draw us closer to God and to each other. We can be the one who comes back, falls at Jesus’ feet, and discovers that gratitude is the path to salvation.
Let us Pray,
Lord Jesus, help us to be like the grateful leper who came back to thank You. Don’t let us be satisfied with just receiving Your gifts – help us return to worship and adore You as the giver. Like Saint Josaphat, give us hearts that work for unity and peace. When You heal our bodies, heal our hearts too. When You solve our problems, draw us closer to You. Help us remember that gratitude is not just good manners – it’s the path to salvation. Amen.
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