“Thanksgiving: The Will of God”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
On Sunday we looked at the story of the Jesus and the ten people whom he cured of leprosy (Luke 17). I began my sermon with stories of Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka`i where people with leprosy were once banished. I read last week that over 8,000 men, women and children were sent there in order to keep leprosy from spreading to others throughout the Hawaiian Islands; and some 95% were Native Hawaiians. As was the case for over a thousand years throughout the world, Hawaiians with leprosy lost just about everything that was important to them: health, comfort, family, community, employment. They were even told that their condition was because of sin in their life. As if it wasn’t bad enough to lose everything else, they were made to feel that God had abandoned them too!
When Jesus healed the ten people of leprosy in the Gospel story, one of them returned and threw himself at Jesus’ feet. Luke pointed out that the man was a Samaritan. I find two important lessons in this. First of all, Jesus healed this man who was different in terms of ethnicity, culture and religion. Jesus didn’t try to convert him first. He simply healed him because he had compassion for him. Secondly, Jesus accepted the man’s gratitude. These two lessons compel us to show compassion to people who are different, especially to people on the margins of society. They also remind us that God accepts our gratitude—no matter who we are.
The final words of Jesus in the story are: “Your faith has made you well.” Even though all ten people were cured, Jesus pointed out the faith and wellness of the man who expressed gratitude. I believe that there is something truly healing when we express our gratitude, and I also believe that our faith is strengthened. Gratitude must be God’s will for us because God wants us to have lives that are whole and experienced with deep faith. May we find healing and faith as we express gratitude on Thanksgiving Day…and on every day!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
P.S. Please see “Weekly News of the Church” to learn more about making a gift to Pacific School of Religion where I serve on the Board of Trustees.
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Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of this week’s message. You may also see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
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