我算得上是个健康迷，经常都会做运动。当年纪越大，我发觉如果有一段时间我没有使用我的肌肉，它会衰退得很快。人们常常说，凡物太久不用，便会变得无用。把这个说法套在感谢上，是很适切的。
感谢不是一种与生俱来的特性，只有某有些人拥有，有些人却没有。感谢乃是像肌肉那样，是可以假以时日锻炼出来的。要成为一个更懂得感谢的人，刻意练习是重要的关键。
我们对耶稣医治的那十个大麻疯病人的认识不多，但我们知道那个回来感谢耶稣的，是个撒马利亚人。路加记载了这个细节，可能是因为在耶稣的年代，犹太人看不起撒马利亚人；然而，这撒马利亚人表达的感谢，是其他麻疯病人没有的。
在这个世代，权利、指控、泄愤，和暴力等心态，似乎已经成为我们文化的主导，感谢还会产生什么影响力吗？会的。说声“我很感激” 或“谢谢您”，不仅能表达我们的谢意，它其实也是一种反文化的声音，这声音能够逆转人际之间怨恨的潮流。它使我们开拓空间，来感谢神那更新和拯救的恩典。
今天，你有好好锻炼那感谢的肌肉吗？
慈爱的神，祢在我们生命中施展医治和大能，求祢悦纳我们的感谢。又求祢藉着耶稣的名，帮助我们天天记着祢为我们所作的一切。奉祂的名祷告，阿们。
路加福音 17:11-19
11耶稣往耶路撒冷去，经过撒马利亚和加利利。
12进入一个村子，有十个长大痲疯的，迎面而来，远远地站着，
13高声说：“耶稣，夫子，可怜我们吧！”
14耶稣看见，就对他们说：“你们去把身体给祭司察看。”他们去的时候就洁净了。
15内中有一个见自己已经好了，就回来大声归荣耀与神，
16又俯伏在耶稣脚前感谢他；这人是撒马利亚人。
17耶稣说：“洁净了的不是十个人吗？那九个在哪里呢？
18除了这外族人，再没有别人回来归荣耀与神吗？”
19就对那人说：“起来，走吧！你的信救了你了。 ”
"He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan." — Luke 17:16
I’m a bit of a health nut. I exercise regularly. As I age, I’m noticing how quickly my muscles weaken when I don’t use them for a while. It’s often said that if you don’t use them, you lose them. It’s helpful to think of gratitude in that way too.
Gratitude is not an inborn trait that some have and others don’t. Rather, it’s more like a muscle that can be strengthened over time. And being intentional about exercising it can be critical to becoming a more grateful person.
We don’t know much about the ten lepers that Jesus healed. We know that the one who returned and gave thanks was a Samaritan. Luke may have included that detail because the Samaritans were looked down on by the Jews of Jesus’ day. But this Samaritan demonstrated a level of gratitude that the other lepers didn’t show.
At a time when things like entitlement, accusation, venting anger, and violence seem to have taken hold of our culture, what kind of impact might gratitude have? Saying “I’m grateful” or “Thank you” does not simply express our thanksgiving but actually gives voice to a countercultural witness that has the power to push back the tide of resentment among us. Then there is room for a fresh appreciation of God’s renewing, saving grace.
Are you keeping your gratitude muscles in shape?
Gracious God, receive our thanks for your healing touch and power in our lives. In the name of Jesus, help us remember all that you do for us each day. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
