Thursday of the Thirty-Fourth or Last Week in Ordinary Time

Thanksgiving Day

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 48:10-21
Mass: (Mass of Thanksgiving Day) Sir 50:22-24; Resp Ps 145; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19
(Of the Day) Dn 6:12-28; Resp Ps (Dn 3); Lk 21:20-28

Great is the Lord and highly to be praised.

SING AND MAKE MUSIC TO THE LORD IN YOUR HEARTS, ALWAYS THANKING GOD THE FATHER FOR ALL THINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

First of all, thank you all you readers out there, both regular and occasional. We are united in prayer and in the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May we, and all our loved ones, pray to the living and true God, join the one leper in today's Gospel and return, glorify God in a loud voice, fall at the feet of Jesus and thank Him!

I share with you a part of our celebration of Vigils this morning. For the reading, David's prayer from the First Book of Chronicles was proclaimed, followed by a text from Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, thoughts that bear repeating. Both follow:

Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, praying in these words:

"Blessed may you be, O Lord, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.

Yours, O Lord, are the grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all.

Riches and honor are from you, and you have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all. Therefore, our God, we give you thanks and we praise the majesty of your name."

(1 Chron 29:10-13)

To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us-and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.
(Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude)

No matter how you say it, grace can transform an ordinary meal into a celebration-of family, love, and gratitude.

(Anne Lamont)

Thanksgiving is an activity. It is the state of grace in action, in the whole life of a person whose freedom has been converted to grace by humility. Gratitude is the gift of self, responding to God's gift.
(Bernard of Clairvaux)

© Gertrude Feick 2019