The Bishop of Wiawso Diocese, Most Rev. Samuel Nkuah-Boateng, has urged Christians to demonstrate genuine gratitude to God through acts of charity, selflessness and service to others, stressing that thanksgiving must be reflected in how they live.
He gave the exhortation during the homily at Mass on Wednesday, November 11, at the Divine Providence Pastoral Centre, Residence Chapel, Jamasi, where he reflected on the importance of gratitude and drew inspiration from the life of St. Martin of Tours.
Drawing from the day’s Scripture readings, the Bishop reminded the faithful that life, abilities and opportunities are gifts from God, which should inspire them to live purposefully and show kindness to others.
He challenged Christians to examine the authenticity of their gratitude, asking whether their thanksgiving to God was genuine or merely expressed in words.
“What type of thanks do you render to God? Authentic? Or just by word of mouth?” he asked.
He further emphasised that gratitude should be demonstrated through the responsible use of the blessings God has given each person.
“What you have is God’s gift to you. What you make of what you have is your gratitude also to God,” he said.
Reflecting on the life of St. Martin of Tours, whose memorial is celebrated on November 11, Bishop Nkuah-Boateng described the saint as a model of charity and selflessness.
Bishop Nkuah-Boateng recalled that St. Martin, who served as a soldier in the Roman army, demonstrated compassion for the poor by sharing his cloak with a needy man, an act that reflected his concern for those in distress.
According to the Bishop, the saint’s example challenges Christians to move beyond personal comfort and make concern for others an essential part of their faith.
He also drew lessons from the Gospel account of the healing of the ten lepers, noting that although all ten received healing from Jesus, only one returned to express gratitude.
The Bishop said the account served as a reminder that Christians should not seek God only when they are in need but should cultivate a lasting relationship with Him through thanksgiving and faithful living.
He encouraged the faithful to reflect on their Christian identity and consider how they use the gifts and opportunities entrusted to them by God.
“If you think you have a heart today, it is by God’s mercy. It is by God’s grace, it is by God’s love to us,” he said.
He further urged the Church in Ghana to use its forthcoming 150th anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on its journey of faith and translate its celebrations into concrete expressions of Christian values.
The Bishop concluded by encouraging Christians to seek the intercession of St. Martin of Tours and emulate his example of charity, humility and service to others.
By Theresa Kpordzo
