In this week’s Gospel, Luke recounts how Jesus healed ten lepers. All ten were healed, but only one returned to thank Him. The same thing happens today. Many people receive blessings, gifts, and talents, yet few take the time to thank God.
It’s easy to feel proud when we achieve something great. Still, we must remember that God gave us not only our talents but also life itself. We owe everything to Him and should thank Him continually for all He has done.
Just as the super wealthy belong to the top 1%, the truly spiritually rich belong to their own 1% club. I can’t say I’m part of that group yet, but it’s something I’m striving for. I would even love to be a canonized saint, though the percentage of canonized saints is less than one ten-thousandth of one percent. If we hope to pass through the narrow gate to Heaven, we should aim to be in the smallest percentage group possible. I would rather reach Heaven with room to spare than barely squeeze through in a crowded group.
It’s natural to want to follow the crowd and blend in, but in our spiritual lives, we are called to stand out. The road to destruction is wide, and the last place we want to be is among a large group heading toward a narrow gate.
The super wealthy don’t gain their fortune overnight; they work hard for years and invest wisely. We, too, must work diligently to become spiritually rich. We need to invest our time, talents, and treasures in ways that draw us and others closer to God. Just as we track our financial net worth, we should also take stock of our spiritual net worth to ensure we’re growing toward true spiritual wealth.
