Grateful

Start this lesson by playing Gratitude Pictionary. This is a fun way to get everyone thinking about the blessings in their lives. Instead of using a pre-made list of words, each person will draw something they are personally grateful for.

Divide into two teams. One person from a team draws on a whiteboard or large paper while their team guesses. Set a time limit for each round, like 60 seconds. No talking or writing letters or numbers while drawing. After the time is up or the word is guessed, switch to the other team. Keep playing until everyone has had a chance to draw.

Full instructions for the game can be found here.

Now that we’ve had some fun and shared what we’re thankful for, let’s take a moment to think more deeply about it. What did you notice during the game?

• Were there any common themes for the things people were thankful for? (Often there will be a lot related to family, friends, food, and shelter.)
• What was the most unusual thing someone drew?
• How often do you spend time thinking about what you are grateful for?

We all have things we are grateful for. But sometimes we take them for granted. It’s easy to move through our day without noticing all the small gifts God gives us. This game helps open our eyes a little to what we already have.

Let’s use this moment to shift our focus. In today’s scripture, we hear a story about ten people who had something amazing happen to them. But only one of them remembered to say thank you. As we listen, think about how this connects to what we just experienced in the game. What does it mean to be grateful? And what does it mean to forget?

Let’s read the Gospel now, and then we’ll talk about what it teaches us about being grateful—both in words and in how we live.

Read Luke 17:11-19 (Jesus Heals Ten Lepers) – the Gospel for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”

Luke 17:11-19

Let’s talk about today’s gospel. It shows us something that’s really easy to forget—saying thank you. Jesus healed ten people who had leprosy. That might not sound like a big deal at first, but leprosy was a terrible disease. It caused painful sores on the body, and people with it were not allowed to live with others. They had to leave their families, their towns, and everything they knew. They were completely cut off from community life.

Imagine getting a sickness that forced you to live away from everyone, not just for a week or two, but maybe for your whole life. No more hugs from your family. No more meals at the table with your friends. No going to school, no games, no fun outings. Just being alone and hoping for a miracle.

And leprosy didn’t just take away their place in the community. It took away their ability to earn money or care for themselves. Many lepers ended up as beggars. The sores could get so bad that they couldn’t walk or even move without pain. Their lives were full of suffering and loneliness.

So when these ten people saw Jesus, they cried out to Him for help. “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” they shouted from a distance. And Jesus heard them. He didn’t ignore them. He didn’t turn away. He saw their pain and gave them the gift they had been waiting for. He healed them.

What happened next is surprising. Only one of the ten came back to say thank you. One. He was a Samaritan, someone who wasn’t even part of the same religion or group as Jesus and his followers. But he returned, fell at Jesus’ feet, and praised God. Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”

Now let’s think about that. Why didn’t the others come back? Maybe they were excited to get back to their homes and families. Maybe they were in shock. Maybe they didn’t even think about it. But the truth is, we do the same thing sometimes. We get good things in life and forget to say thank you—especially to God.

Take a moment to think about your own life. Do you have food to eat? A place to sleep? People who care about you? These might seem like small or normal things, but not everyone has them. These are gifts, and every gift deserves a thank you. We might think these things just “happen,” but they are signs of God’s love.

Sometimes something really good happens, like you make a new friend, or you do well in school, or you feel peace after a tough day. Do you stop and thank God in those moments? Or do you just move on to the next thing?

And then there are the even bigger gifts. Jesus gave His life for us on the cross. He opened the doors to heaven. He gave us the sacraments—especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation—so we could be close to Him. These are huge gifts. They’re signs of God’s love that never end. How often do we thank Him for these?

The more we take time to thank God, the more we notice how many blessings we have. This builds a habit called gratitude. It’s like training your heart to see the good and respond with joy. Gratitude helps us focus on what we do have, not what we don’t.

And here’s something really cool—when you live with a grateful heart, it often turns into action. You start wanting to help others. You feel more joyful and more generous. You look for ways to serve because you understand how much you’ve been given. That’s how we become more like Jesus.

So take some time today to thank God. Say it out loud. Write it in a journal. Mention it in prayer. Notice the small blessings and the big ones. Because the more we say thank you, the more we become people of hope, kindness, and love. And the world needs more people like that.

When breaking into small groups, remind everyone that this is a safe space to share. No one is forced to speak, but everyone is invited to. Listen with respect. Try not to interrupt or judge others’ thoughts. The goal is to reflect and grow together as we think about what it means to be grateful and how we can practice it in our daily lives.

• Why do you think only one of the ten lepers came back to thank Jesus?
• Can you think of a time when you forgot to say thank you for something important?
• What are some everyday things you are grateful for but often forget to notice?
• Why do you think God wants us to be grateful?
• How does saying thank you to God help build your faith?
• Have you ever felt closer to God when you were thankful?
• What is one way you can show gratitude to someone in your life this week?
• How can being grateful lead you to help others?
• Do you find it easier to be grateful when life is going well? What about during hard times?
• What is something you are grateful for right now that you haven’t thanked God for yet?

This week, try keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, take a few minutes to think of at least three things you’re grateful for and write them down. Try to be specific. Instead of just saying “friends,” write something like “my friend walked with me after school today.” Instead of “food,” say “the warm soup we had for dinner.” These little details help you see how many personal gifts God gives you each day. You’ll start to notice blessings you may have missed before.

After you write down your three things, take a quiet moment to pray. Talk to God and say thank you for those blessings. You don’t need fancy words—just speak from your heart. You can even write a short prayer in your journal. Over time, this habit will help you feel closer to God and more joyful. Gratitude can change how you see the world and how you live each day. Give it a try and see what happens.

Let’s close today’s grateful lesson with a special kind of prayer. This is a quiet, powerful way for us to lift up our hearts to God with simple words of thanks. Everyone will get a chance to speak, but remember—we’re not having a conversation. We’re praying together.

Let’s all sit in a circle and get comfortable. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes if you want to. Try to focus your heart and mind on God. Think about the blessings in your life—people, moments, feelings, even challenges that helped you grow.

Now, here’s how the prayer will work: one person at a time will say one word out loud. Just one word. That word should be something you’re thankful for. It can be a person, a feeling, a need that God has filled, or even something simple that brought you joy today.

Here are a few words you might use:
Peace
Love
Family
Friendship
Laughter
Courage
Mom
Dad
Forgiveness
Hope
Kindness
Sunshine
Music
Patience
Jesus

You don’t need to explain your word. Just speak it clearly, then let others take a turn. We want to keep a prayerful mood, so please don’t say anything silly or meant to get laughs. You can repeat a word someone else said if it speaks to your heart. After you say a word, give a few others a chance to share before you go again.

There’s no rush. There’s no right or wrong word—just speak from your heart. And there’s no pressure to speak if you’d rather just listen and pray silently.

We’re going to storm heaven together—one word at a time.

Let’s begin. I’ll start.

Thankfulness.
[Pause and let the circle continue.]

For more information, see How to Lead a One Word Spontaneous Prayer Circle.

Themes for the Grateful Lesson Plan

• Saying Thank You to God: We believe that everything good comes from God. Giving thanks helps us stay connected to Him. It reminds us that we need God every day.
• Jesus Notices the Forgotten: Jesus healed the lepers, even though they were outcasts. He saw their pain and cared for them. This shows us that no one is left out in God’s eyes.
• Gratitude Builds Faith: The one who came back to thank Jesus was told his faith saved him. When we are grateful, we begin to trust God more. This helps our faith grow stronger.
• Blessings Are Meant to Be Shared: When we receive blessings, it is not just for us. Gratitude often leads us to help others. It makes us generous with our time and love.
• Eucharist Means Thanksgiving: The word Eucharist means thanksgiving. When we go to Mass, we thank God for Jesus and His sacrifice. Gratitude is a key part of worship.
• Jesus Heals Our Hearts: Jesus did not just heal bodies, He also healed hearts. The leper who returned was healed inside and out. Gratitude opens us up to deeper healing.
• God Works in Everyday Life: Sometimes we miss the small blessings. Gratitude teaches us to see God in daily moments. It reminds us that God is always near.
• Faith Is About Relationship: The grateful leper did not just follow instructions—he came back to Jesus. That shows he wanted more than healing, he wanted a connection. Gratitude helps us grow closer to Jesus.
• Being Grateful Changes Us: When we give thanks often, we become more joyful and kind. It helps us focus less on what we don’t have. Gratitude leads to peace in our hearts.
• Gratitude Is for All Times: We don’t just give thanks when life is good. Even in hard times, we can find things to thank God for. This keeps our hearts open to hope.
• Serving Others with Joy: Grateful people often want to give back. They want to help others experience good things too. This is a way we live out our faith.

Background Material for the Grateful Lesson Plan

Gratitude is at the heart of our Catholic faith. We are called to recognize all that God has done for us and respond with thanks. From the beginning of the Bible to the end, God’s people are shown giving thanks for blessings, even during hard times. This lesson on being grateful helps young people understand that thankfulness is not just polite—it is holy.

The Bible gives many examples of people who showed gratitude. The Book of Psalms is full of praise and thanks to God. Psalm 107 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.” In the New Testament, Saint Paul often writes about gratitude. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 he says, “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Paul is reminding us that giving thanks is part of how we follow Jesus.

The Gospel story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) shows us something important. All ten were healed, but only one came back to say thank you. Jesus notices this and praises the one who returned. This story teaches that God wants us to have grateful hearts. It’s not just about being healed or receiving a gift. It’s about seeing God in those moments and choosing to come back to Him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very clearly. It says, “Every joy and suffering, every event and need can become the matter for thanksgiving which, sharing in that of Christ, should fill one’s whole life” (CCC 2648). Gratitude is not something we do once in a while. It is part of our daily walk with God.

The Eucharist is the highest form of thanksgiving. The word “Eucharist” itself means “thanksgiving.” Every time we go to Mass, we remember and give thanks for the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We give thanks to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. When youth learn to be grateful, they can better understand the Mass and take part in it more fully.

Gratitude also leads to action. When we are thankful, we are more likely to be kind, to serve others, and to give back. This reflects the teachings of Jesus, who told us to love one another. Gratitude helps us see our blessings and share them.

This lesson is not just about feelings. It helps young people learn a habit. Saying thank you to God becomes part of how they live and pray. It teaches them to notice the good things in life and recognize God’s love in all things.

In short, gratitude brings us closer to God. It helps us grow in faith, hope, and love. And it helps us become more like Jesus. This is why learning to be grateful is so important in the life of a Catholic.

Music Suggestions for the Grateful Lesson Plan

• Now Thank We All Our God
• Amazing Grace / My Chains Are Gone by Chris Tomlin
• Our God Is Good by Josh Blakesley
• How Great Is Our God/How Great Thou Art by CeCe Winans

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

For more free resources to help youth grow in faith, visit our Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections page. You’ll find over 100 lesson plans covering topics like prayer, service, discipleship, and gratitude. Each plan includes discussion questions, activities, and prayers to engage young people.

These resources are designed for catechists, youth ministers, and teachers. They are easy to use and adaptable for different settings. Explore the full collection here.