Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving: Give Thanks Always

On the last Thursday of every November Americans celebrate Thanksgiving day.  On this day, the traditional turkey meal is enjoyed by families across the nation.  Americans give thanks for life, their families, health, goods etc.  The origin of this day comes from the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth Rock.  The Wampanoag Indians taught these settlers how to farm and hunt.  As a deeply religious people, the Pilgrims then had a meal thanking God for the many blessings in this new land.

While the day is great, we should always thank God daily for everything, both good and bad (1 Timothy 4:4-5).  I know there are times where things go bad in life or we perceive them as bad.  These bad periods often affect our faith. We begin to question whether or not God cares for us or in extreme moments, whether God even exists.  These reactions or emotions are normal. Human beings do not understand everything in life.  Things come out of nowhere and none of us can truly anticipate it. Nevertheless, we must keep the faith and be thankful for everything that happens in life.  Everything is a blessing whether direct or hidden.  We must be strong like Job who faced all kinds of trials but never lost faith.  Though God "slayed him," he still believed (Job 13:15).  Job understood that God had something in store for him and was testing him.  God never gives anything that we cannot handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must be thankful for the gift of life and for all it entails (Psalm 9:1).

The Catholic Church always gives thanks in the Eucharist.  The word "Eucharist" means Thanksgiving.  We offer our prayers to God, thanking Him while remembering His Son's sacrifice on the Cross (Philippians 4:6-7).  Jesus Christ becomes the bread and wine at Mass not symbolically but literally.  The Mass takes place daily throughout the Earth.  There is only one day where Mass is not said and that is on Good Friday.   So before the Pilgrims, Catholics have been having Thanksgiving, not with comfort food, but with The Bread of Life.  This is awesome to contemplate on its own.  You reading this post should think of this every time you attend Mass. 

Let us Thank God for everything, not just on this last Thursday of November, but daily; whether at Holy Mass, work, school or at home.


Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.



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