Glorifying God: Beyond Gratitude

Reflection on Sunday’s Gospel – Homily by Fr. Ted at the National Shrine Grotto

“Was no one found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?” — Luke 17:18

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

This Sunday’s Gospel about the ten lepers (Luke 17:11–19) is one we know well: ten are healed, but only one returns to Jesus to say thank you. Most of us have heard this story as a lesson on gratitude—a reminder to be thankful for all that God has done for us. And that’s certainly true. But as Fr. Ted reminded us in his homily at the National Shrine Grotto, there’s something deeper at work here.

The Samaritan leper didn’t just return to say thank you—he came back to glorify God.

More Than Gratitude

Fr. Ted pointed out that in the original Greek, Jesus asks why only one came back to give doxa—that is, glory—to God. The word doxa doesn’t mean “thanks.” It means “splendor, brilliance, or renown.” It’s where we get the word doxology—the prayer we say at the end of every Mass when the priest raises the chalice and proclaims, “All glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father.”

So the Samaritan didn’t just feel grateful; he made his gratitude visible. He didn’t keep it private; he made it public. He didn’t just whisper a prayer of thanks—he proclaimed God’s goodness with his voice and his actions.

And this, Fr. Ted reminded us, is what true disciples do. They glorify God.

What It Means to Glorify God

To glorify someone is to make their excellence known. To glorify God means to make visible who He is—His love, mercy, power, and beauty. It’s not about adding to God’s greatness (He is already perfect!), but about making His greatness visible in the world.

Fr. Ted described how all creation glorifies God in its own way. The vastness of the ocean speaks of His immensity. The delicate beauty of a flower reveals His artistry. The stars in the sky declare His majesty.

But human beings glorify God in a special way—by choice. We are capable of knowing Him and freely giving Him glory. When we choose to live with faith, love, and humility, we reflect His light in the world.

As St. Irenaeus wrote, “The glory of God is man fully alive, and the life of man consists in beholding God.”

Living a Life That Glorifies God

Fr. Ted invited us to think of practical ways we can glorify God in our everyday lives:

• When we give credit to God for our blessings instead of taking the glory ourselves.

• When we publicly praise Him and share what He has done in our lives.

• When we imitate Christ—forgiving others, loving those who are hard to love, serving those in need.

• When we live in a way that reflects His goodness—with integrity, kindness, and hope.

He reminded us of Saint Carlo Acutis, whose memorial was celebrated the same weekend. Carlo didn’t only have a private devotion to the Eucharist; he wanted the whole world to see how amazing God is in the Blessed Sacrament. His Eucharistic Miracles website became a living testimony that glorified God.

Like Carlo, we are called not only to believe quietly, but to magnify the Lord through our creativity, our witness, and our joy.

Mary, the Perfect Example of Glorification

Fr. Ted also reflected on Our Lady, whose Magnificat is the Church’s most perfect song of glorification:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” — Luke 1:46–47

Mary did not make God bigger; she made Him clearer. Just as a magnifying glass doesn’t enlarge an object but makes it more visible, Mary’s life made God’s mercy and faithfulness shine for all to see.

We too are called to be “magnifying glasses” of God—to make His love more visible in the world.

Ex-Votos of the Heart

At many shrines, people leave ex-votos—tokens of thanksgiving like crutches, plaques, or small hearts—as visible signs of the grace they’ve received. Fr. Ted said we might not bring our crutches to the Grotto wall, but we can bring something far more powerful: a life changed by God’s mercy.

We can light a candle in remembrance.
We can share a testimony of healing.
We can tell someone how God has blessed us.
We can return to the Shrine each year in gratitude.

But above all, we can live as witnesses of His glory—letting others see His light reflected in our lives.

From Gratitude to Glory

As Fr. Ted concluded, gratitude is where we begin, but glorification is where we must go. Gratitude thanks God for what He has done; glorification proclaims who God is.

When we glorify God, we don’t just acknowledge His goodness—we make it contagious. We help others see what we see, believe what we believe, and love whom we love.

“Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

A Call to Action

So, what about us?
Have we merely thanked God, or have we also glorified Him?
Have we shared our blessings, or have we kept them hidden?

This week, let’s go beyond silent gratitude. Let’s glorify God in how we speak, act, and live. Let’s make His goodness visible in our homes, our workplaces, and our community.

Like the Samaritan who returned to praise Jesus, may our hearts be moved not only to say “Thank You, Lord,” but to proclaim, “Glory to You in the highest!”

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.”
May our lives be a living doxology of love, joy, and praise —
for all that God has done, and for all that He is.