On the Virtue of Gratitude
By Miss Sheila A. Karipel, O.P.
(Originally published in eLumen, Vol 22, No. 1, Winter 2025 edition.)
The Tribute Money, by Rubens (1610–1615)
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,”
Jesus said to the Pharisees and the Herodians who asked Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Surely we have to pay taxes to the ruling government. But what do we owe to God? Gratitude! Jesus does take note when we fail to give thanks or praise to God.
We have learned that the Eucharist is the principal, ritual, sacramental action of thanksgiving to God, and that it was established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the altar and the offerings. What is the offering acceptable to God? Freewill offering!
Cain and Abel offering sacrifice…
What did Cain and Abel, the children of Adam and Eve, offer to God? We learn that Abel was a sheep keeper while Cain plowed and prepared the ground for crops. Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground while Abel brought the firstlings of his flock to the Lord. Therefore, the Lord was pleased with Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. God loves a cheerful giver.
We know that Abram gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek who is the Messianic figure foreshadowing Christ. Furthermore, we learn that the Israelites were told not to appear before the Lord empty-handed, and that each one should give according to the blessing received from the Lord. Nevertheless, Jesus denounces the scribes and the Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith while tithing mint, dill, and cummin.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Apparently there is only one way we can test God: Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house; and thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
On the virtue of gratitude, St. Thomas Aquinas states that to whom more is forgiven, he loveth more. Therefore for the same reason, the penitent is bound to greater thanksgiving.
Ingratitude is reckoned among other sins, wherein is written: disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,...
Ingratitude is an illness more lethal than leprosy, though it might not seem so. The ungrateful heart recognizes no source of gift outside itself. If we owe no one our thanks, we need no one. We are lonely indeed. The ultimate consequence of this self-chosen, self-enclosing isolation is the death of the spirit - the irremediable death we call “hell.” Jesus heals far more than dying bodies; He heals dying hearts.
Since fervent thanksgiving prevents us from denying God, let us live lives overflowing with the spirit of thanksgiving.
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References Cited:
Matthew 22:21 The Question about Paying Taxes
Luke 17: 11-19 Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
Genesis 4:2b - 5a The Offerings of Cain and Abel
2 Corinthians 9:7 Collections for Christians in Jerusalem
Genesis 14:18b-20 Abram Blessed by Melchizedek
Deuteronomy 16:16c-17 How to Appear Before the Lord
Matthew 23:23 Jesus Denounces Scribes and Pharisees
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Malachi 3:10 Do Not Rob God
Summa Theologica, II-II, Q. 106, A. 2 Thankfulness or Gratitude
Luke 7:43 A Sinful Woman Forgiven
Summa Theologica, II-II, Q. 107, A. 1 Ingratitude
2 Timothy 3:2 Godlessness in the Last Days
