A Homily on Luke 17:11–19: Returning with Gratitude (12-10-25)

A heartfelt homily on Luke 17:11–19 that uses the simple story of an ant and a bird to show how gratitude completes the circle of love and calls us to return to God with thankful hearts in daily life.(12-10-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

Once there was a small ant that fell into a stream. The water was running fast. The poor ant tried to climb out but could not. A little bird sitting on a branch saw her. She felt pity. She quickly plucked a dry leaf and dropped it into the water. The ant climbed on it and slowly floated to safety. Time went by. One day a hunter came to the same forest. He saw the same bird sitting quietly on a branch and aimed his arrow. Just before he shot, the same ant that had once been saved saw what was happening. She ran and bit the hunter’s foot. The arrow missed, and the bird flew away. Later, the bird understood that it was the same ant she had saved long ago. The kindness came back to her. Gratitude returned.

This small story seems fits well with the Gospel today (Luke 17:11–19). Ten lepers were healed, but only one returned to thank Jesus. The word that stands out is “returned.” Returning is not just walking back with legs. It is turning the heart back to the One who gave life. The nine others were healed, they received health, but not joy. The one who returned found both.

It is true, in our time too, the gratitude is disappearing.  Unfortunately, we are living in a world that remembers people only when we are in need of them. Once the work is done, we move on.

 God blesses us every day, yet we hardly remember to thank Him. When we are in trouble, we remember Him quickly. But when all goes well, we forget Him faster. It happens in families too. A mother cooks and cleans and sacrifices, but many children never thank her. A father works day and night, yet his efforts are taken as normal. Many parents spend their old age in nursing homes. The number of old age homes is enough to show how much ingratitude we live in today.

The lamentation of God in the book of Isaiah is heart touching “The ox knows its owner, and the donkey knows its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not know ” (Isaiah 1:3). Even the donkey remembers its tent, but we humans forget the One who gave us everything. Even animals teach us what gratitude means. Feed a dog once, it will remember you for life.

One good example of gratitude we see in the Old testament in the story of Namman .  He was a leper and was healed buy prophet Elisha  (2 Kings 5:15)  After he was healed, he came back to Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.” He returned. That returning made his healing complete.

Saint Teresa of Avila says that  “Ingratitude is the forgetfulness of love.” When we stop thanking, love begins to dry up. Gratitude is like water to love. It keeps the heart fresh, soft, and alive.

To live gratitude, we must learn to notice. Notice the small acts of love that happen everyday:  someone listening, someone helping, someone praying for us. Notice the sunrise, the meal on the table, the smile of a child. All are gifts. When we begin to see them as gifts, our heart naturally turns to God. Gratitude makes life lighter. Complaining makes it heavy.

The ant remembered, the bird returned. The leper thanked, God rejoiced. Gratitude completes the circle of love. It is what makes us human and holy.

Lord, give us a heart that remembers to return and thank You, always and everywhere.