“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in Him you were enriched in every way … as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-5,7)
Reflections on the readings for Thanksgiving Day (November 24, 2022): SIR 50:22-24; PS 145:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9,10-11; 1COR 1:3-9; LK 17:11-19
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Today -- and tomorrow, too -- let us honor that gift in ourselves and in others. St. Augustine knew the beauty and significance of life and love. He prayed...
This American holiday of Thanksgiving is an opportunity to enjoy ourselves with family, friends and neighbors gathering to eat and drink and reminisce about past get-togethers. And that is a good thing. Yet it should not be everything. In remembering our own traditions and those of our nation, we can also make a point of stopping to thank God. If possible, we can go to Mass. We can also say grace before we eat, even mentioning some of the things for which we are grateful. The first reading today, is a lovely prayer: “And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to His will! May He grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you” (Sirach 50:22-23).
We also need to recall that not everyone has the same blessings -- not materially or spiritually. It’s important to recognize that God loves each of us and is always with us. But, the circumstances of our lives can vary immensely. And we need to understand that God sends many of His blessings, His mercy, into the lives of all His people through each other. Every one of us has a responsibility to share from our abundance with those around us who are in need. Of course, this can means providing help in material ways to those who are in want. But it can also mean having a cup of coffee with someone who is lonely, or helping a neighbor get through a stressful time by baby-sitting or driving them to medical appointments. Sometimes just listening can do wonders to lift a person’s spirit. God gave life to every single one of us on earth. Today -- and tomorrow, too -- let us honor that gift in ourselves and in others. St. Augustine knew the beauty and significance of life and love. He prayed: “Thanks be to you, my joy and my glory and my hope and my God. Thanks be to You for Your gifts; do preserve them in me, so You will preserve me, and the things You have given me will increase and be made perfect, and I shall be with You: because even that I exist is Your gift.”
Suggested missionary action: Let’s tell God how grateful we are for the love and mercy He has given us throughout our lives. And let’s express our thanks by sharing our generous spirit with those who need what we have to offer.