Is given to bless the poor man’s lot,
And lift his heart above.
MAMMA’S SUNDAY TALK.
MIRACLES OF OUR SAVIOUR:
TEN LEPERS HEALED.
One of the most common faults—or rather, I should say, one of the most common sins—that we meet with in the world, is that of ingratitude. Some are ungrateful from pride or conceit, thinking that the kindnesses or services of others are due to them of right. But most people are ungrateful simply from thoughtlessness: yet this very thoughtlessness—the want of thought for others—has its root in what is the foundation of all faults—selfishness.
Even in dumb creatures—from whom, by the way, we may often learn good lessons—we seldom see ingratitude. If you are kind and gentle to a dog or cat, a horse or bird, it will be thankful, and generally manage in its own fashion to make you understand its gratitude. My darling children, never be ungrateful! Be grateful to God first of all—be grateful to God for everything. Be grateful to your father and mother; and be grateful also to all those who show so many kindnesses to you. Never forget to thank them both with heart and lip.
I am going to tell you to-day of an instance of man’s ingratitude: not that of man to man, but of ingratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are told by St. Luke that,—“It came to pass as Jesus went to Jerusalem, He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off; and they lifted up their voices, and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ And when He saw them, He said unto them, ‘Go, show yourselves unto the priests.’ And it came to pass that, as they went, they were cleansed.”