Sunday's gospel was about ten lepers who were cured. Only one returned to give thanks. I have thought about this in terms of discernment. What role does gratitude play in discernment? Or maybe the question is, what role does awareness of the gifts I have received play?

We all have many gifts and receive many graces. But I, for one, take little time to reflect on the source of the many blessings in my life. I take things for granted. I am more aware of what I lack and more apt to be asking for help than recognizing what I have received. To look at call and where I am called to be by God, takes some awareness of where I have been and how I have gotten to where I am. The ten were made clean. The direction of all their lives was changed. But for one the direction of his life was changed in more profound ways than merely being able to rejoin the community and lead a normal life. For this one there was a new awareness of where his well-being came from. His heart was turned to gratitude. His outlook become more other centered.

Discernment involves being able to take my focus off of myself and my own inner workings. To listen to God's call, I need to look outside myself and also see what I have as gift. Gratitude is an outward movement that is essential to the process of discernment.

What gifts am I experiencing today for which I can express gratitude?