Parable 25 - Gratitude

It seemed Amanda was good at everything, and she knew it. Fifth grade was going exceptionally well. She was a top reader, a great speller, had excellent writing skills, got the best marks in art and science, and she was athletic.

One day in church, which her Catholic school celebrated once a week, the principal asked all the kids to pray a prayer of gratitude to God. Amanda prayed, “Dear Lord, I don’t know why you have blessed me so abundantly. Tricia reads slowly, but I am a fast reader, and I can spell words that even Ms. Kimmy, our teacher, can’t spell. I could say more, and perhaps I should. You have made me the fastest girl in our class. Thank you. My science experiment was featured during Parent Night. Thank you. Somehow, I am different from the other kids. You have blessed me more abundantly. I don’t get in trouble like Brian does. Thank you.”

Feeling very satisfied with her beautiful prayer, which Amanda recognized as full of gratitude—definitely expressing more gratitude than the other students in her class—she looked around and felt sorry for the kids who had so little to put in their gratitude prayers.

After church, the fifth graders went to music class. Singing was a mystery to be solved by Amanda. For some reason, she couldn’t feel the vibrations that the music teacher, Mr. Harp, described. Evidently, those vibrations let one know they were singing the right note. Since Amanda couldn’t feel them, she thought if she sang louder, she would likely discover them.

Today, Mr. Harp stopped the class mid-song and, without looking at any particular person, said, “Kids, it is important to sing in tune. Some of us are singing very loudly but not quite the right notes. I want you to sing more softly, especially if you can’t tell you are singing the right notes.”

It was obvious to Amanda that some kids were messing up the song. She felt it her duty to sing even louder to make up for the kids who were not musically inclined.

But soon after they began to sing again, Mr. Harp stopped the class. He looked kindly at Amanda and said, “Amanda, I especially need you to sing more softly. Try to follow the tune of Brian or Tricia.”

“You want me to try to help Brian and Tricia?”

“No, dear. I want you to sing more quietly and try to imitate them.”

Meditation

How humiliating that moment was for Amanda. Most of us have had a moment like this, where we are embarrassed to learn how poor we are at something. We think we are good, but suddenly recognize that we fall short.

The story from today’s scripture compares the proud prayer of the Pharisee to the breast-beating prayer of the tax collector. Jesus tells us not to pray like the Pharisee—or Amanda. Pope Francis certainly took this message to heart. He often described himself as a sinner and asked for our prayers.

Personal prayer may seem tough to figure out. After all, we are wonderfully made in God’s image, which makes some of us feel proud, and that comes out in our prayer. When we start comparing ourselves to those not as gifted or worthy as we are, we are clearly headed in the wrong direction.

Even if you are elected to lead the Catholic Church, remember to be humble in your gratitude.

Water the seed and ask yourself...

What am I feeling grateful for today?