GRATITUD

E
• Grace to ask: to ask God for the
grace of being grateful to all the
things that happened to my life
even how painful it was.
Fundamental Truth:
Deus caritas est.

Nothing is more basic than

the realization and
acceptance that God loves us.
 This fundamental truth
becomes all the more
important given our present
context.
What is happening around us
today?

INSECURITY CYNICISM
In the face of all
these, we need The Church is a
to hear again, community that
this must remember
fundamental this truth,
truth. Despite especially in the
what is context of
insecurity and
happening
cynicism.
around us, we
believe that
God loves us
 Do we still
believe in this
fundamental
truth? One
indication of
our conviction gratitude
about this The person who
truth is… believes in God’s
love is a grateful
 What is gratitude?
• on the human level, gratitude is
associated with basic politeness
• on the psycho-emotional level, gratitude is
related to our well-being as persons

• on the spiritual level, gratitude is

related to our salvation
BLOCKS TO GRATITUDE

Envy is seeing the

blessings in the
life of other
people while
being blind to
the richness of
ENVY one’s own.
BLOCKS TO GRATITUDE

Some blessings
are so ordinary
that we do not
appreciate
them anymore.

ORDINARINESS
BLOCKS TO GRATITUDE

Why will I give

thanks when my
success is
nothing else
than the
product of my
ENTITLEMENT hardwork?
 NOURISHING GRATITUDE

Gratitude results
from a way of
seeing reality.
If you want to grow
in gratitude,
focus on what
you have, and
appreciate it as APPRECIATION
gift.
 NOURISHING GRATITUDE

No matter how
much we try, or
how sincere our
intentions, or how
good our plans,
there is no
guarantee that ACCEPTANCE
we will always
succeed.
 NOURISHING GRATITUDE
We grow in gratitude
when we learn to
place everything –
our life, our work,
our plans – in God’s
hands.
Abandonment yields
to insight. When you
place everything in
God’s hands, you will
begin to see ABANDONMENT
blessings in disguise.
Scriptural Texts for Prayer

• Psalm 92
“How great are your works, O
Lord.”

• Psalm 107
“Give thanks to the
Lord for his love
endures forever.”
• Luke 17:11-19
The Parable of the Ten
Lepers
Questions for reflection and group
sharing:
1. Are you a grateful person? What are the
things you are grateful for? Who are the
person you are grateful with?

2. If you are not, what keeps me from

becoming one? What are the hindrances?

3. What path should you take in order to grow

in gratitude?