Thanksgiving Day – 2023
After Abrahan Lincoln declared the first Thanksgiving Day after the close of the Civil War. The relations between North and south did not improve all that much. Today it has become the strife between Red States and Blue States. Hence there is a greater than ever need to celebrate Thanksgiving. But celebrating it with an awareness of the extent to which we must be conscious of our need for God to show us the way to celebrate as true children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
We just heard Isaiah telling us how God showed His love for the people of Israel: “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord.” God showed that love even though the people fell away in due time. And even today we see the people of Israel in serious strife with their neighbors.
Paul tells us in the second reading how we are to celebrate Thanksgiving as true Christians. “Put on as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. Compassion, kindness, meekness and patience, forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us. And above all, put on love which binds everyone together in love.”
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to imitate Him in the ways in which He was able to constantly give thanks to His Father, even in difficult and hard things. Jesus thanked the father when He was criticized by the Pharisees and Sadducees. And in today’s gospel, He shows patience even in face of the lack of gratitude on the part of the nine.
He was the perfect example of of what we will pray shortly in the Preface: “It is truly right and just… at all times to give thanks.” This is expressed in a poem- prayer..
Teach me, Lord. To live this prayer, that I may thank thee every day for everything. I fo at times give thanks for what seems good. For health, success, for love and gain, for all that pleases self.
And yet how thoughtless – blind = to thank thee not for what is truly good- for pain, unkindness, censure, blame – for every hurt that comes from person, place or work. By these keen instruments would you, Divine Physician. Remove the harmful growth of self. To give new life, thine own true life, and peace abundantly.
But I am blind – see not the loving hand; then in resisting, suffer more and spoil their work. Forgive then, Lord, my blindness and squandered life , and give me grace this day to see Thy chastening hand in all my hurts. The grace to take each purifying cross, and then – give thanks with all my heart.
This is the way that Jesus confronted each hurtful event in His life – with love and trust. Extending His saving power to all.
He gives us this day to give thanks for ALL, to strive to be grateful as Jesus is grateful.