Actions speak louder than words

Social distancing to avoid disease is nothing new.  Long before the germ theory of disease, isolation and fear of contagion kept anyone with visible skin disease “unclean,” on the outskirts of society.  According to custom, one could re-enter society only after a priest certified a cure.

The ten lepers in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 17:11-19) needed to raise their voices to be heard from their (socially safe) distance.  “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”  Jesus only instructed them to show themselves to the priests.  As they were going, all were cured, but only one – a foreigner – returned to thank Jesus.

Again a raising of the voice – a loud voice giving glory to God, and the cured one no longer distanced himself but courageously and with great faith approached Jesus, threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.

As I reflected on this Bible account today, a question occurred to me.  Did Jesus ever say “Thank you” to anyone in the Gospels?  After a bit of (I’ll admit) quick research, my answer is yes, but it would seem only to His Heavenly Father.  Before He raised Lazarus from the dead Jesus prayed: “Father, I thank you for having heard me…” (John 11:41)   At the last Supper the night before Jesus died “…taking bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying: ‘This is my body to be given for you.’” (Luke 22:18)   Again before Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the 5000, “Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute…” (Mark 8:6)   Since everything belonged to the Father, His only possible response to God was a simple “Thank you!”

But to everyone else who befriended or helped Him Jesus didn’t say “thanks”; instead, He did something for them to show His gratitude.  When Peter allowed Jesus to use his boat as a pulpit, He didn’t say thanks.  Instead He provided him with the miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-11).  When Mary supplied the amenities that Simon failed to offer, Jesus said her act of kindness would be retold till the end of time (Matthew 26:6-13).  And when the Canaanite woman responded to His request for a cup of water, Jesus gave her water springing up to eternal life, the gift of faith (John 4:1-42).

When someone thanks us we know how it makes us feel satisfied, sometimes even needed.  It bonds people together making us realize that we are our neighbor’s keeper.  Whereas ingratitude breeds ingratitude.  When people react in an ungrateful way, it distances people one from another making them feel superfluous, perhaps even a nuisance or menace.

Following Jesus’ example is the path to holiness and eternal life.  So being ever ready to express gratitude by deeds, or at least words of thanks, should be our spontaneous response to every act of help or kindness shown to us.

For me it takes courage to raise my voice to God, to ask for a felt closeness, a sure knowledge of His love for me.  But when I do, it’s in the going that He answers me.  God’s love for me becomes felt in acts of kindness toward those He presents to me throughout the day.  Isolated as we are during Covid-19, a phone call, a letter, a prayer for others all manifest God’s love for us.  I can feel it.

May we all throw ourselves at Jesus’ feet and thank Him, through our actions towards our fellow “lepers”.  Actions do speak louder than words.