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

Thanksgiving Day 

Other saints: Saint Leonard of Porto Maurizio (1676-1751); Saint John Berchmans (1599-1621); Pope Saint Siricus (399); Saint Conrad of Constance, Bishop (975); Saint Nikon "Metanoiete" (998); Bd Pontius of Faucigny, Abbot (1178); Saint Sylvester Gozzolini, Abbot (c. 1177-1267); Saint Elear (c. 1285-1323) and Bd Delphina (c. 1285-1360); BB Hugh Taylor and Marmaduke Bowes, Martyrs (1585); Bd Humilis of Bisignano (c. 1582-1637); Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 47 Announcing the Hours for the Work of God

Mass: For Mass of Thanksgiving Day: Sir 50:22-24; Resp Ps 145;1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19

For the feria: Rev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a; Resp Ps 100; Lk 21:20-28

I will praise your name forever, Lord.

JESUS, AUTHOR OF LIFE,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Happy Thanksgiving! I'll offer a bit of this and that for today.

How did you do on your list of ten, or at least five, things you are grateful for? It's not too late to get started since this whole day is devoted to thanksgiving and gratitude, as Saint Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances," whatever they are, "for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Th 5:18), And as our Catechism teaches: "Every joy and every suffering, every event and need can become the matter for thanksgiving which, sharing in that of Christ, should fill one's whole life" (2648). So why not join the leper healed by Jesus, the one who glorified God in a loud voice, fell at the feet of Jesus, and thanked Him (Lk 17:15-16). 

We were on the theme of thanksgiving and gratitude at Vigils this morning when we heard a text from Thomas Merton, from his Thoughts in Solitude. But first King David's Prayer from the First Book of Chronicles was proclaimed (1 Chron 29:10-13). There David prays: ... Our God, we give you thanks and we praise the majesty of your name.

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 heresay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.

(Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude)

So we go forth with praise, thanksgiving, and gratitude in our hearts and on our lips and "bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters peoples growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to His will! May He grant you joy of heart and may peace abide in you" (Sir 50:22-23). Amen. 

MARY, CAUSE OF OUR JOY,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020