Thanksgiving: Awareness, sharing, attitude

In order for Thanksgiving Day to really be a time of giving thanks, it must simultaneously be a time for awareness and a time for sharing.

So, this day is, first of all, a time of awareness. How aware are we of all that we have received: the many gifts given to us, the many talents entrusted to us? There are those little things that make daily living worthwhile and pleasant: a smile, a handshake, an encouraging word. Then, let us recall the gifts of life and love, beauty and truth, and the goodness reflected in people and nature. We can easily take the people in our lives for granted; how deeply they enrich us! Even the moments of sadness and pain are occasions for being grateful because they teach us that this life, though temporary, leads us to eternal life if we cling to God in faith, hope and charity. During this Year for Priests, we are aware of the gift of the priesthood within the Church and of those priests who have led us to Christ and His abundant life. Above all, we become aware of the gift of faith planted in us like a seed at Baptism, faith in a loving personal God, One God in Three Persons; God Who as Father is the source of every good gift, God Who as Son became our redeemer and savior, God Who as Holy Spirit makes us holy by drawing us into the life of the Trinity. Awareness is the theme of our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. “The favors of the Lord I will recall, the glorious deeds of the Lord, because of all he has done for us, for he is good….Because of his love and pity, he himself redeemed [us], lifting…and carrying [us]” (Is 63:7-9).

Secondly, this day is a time for sharing. Every gift given us, every talent entrusted to us: these are not to be hoarded selfishly by us, but to be passed on to others, to be shared graciously, generously, and joyfully. We share the heritage of freedom as we recall those men and women who this day are separated from family and loved ones because they are defending freedom and seeking to restore peace in places far away and often dangerous. We share our resources, even if these are diminished because of the times in which we live. From our “little,” we give to those who have even less or nothing. We share by giving of ourselves, again in those small ways like giving of our time and energy, offering compassion and forgiveness, doing those things that make kindness and goodness tangible. We share our faith, that precious life-giving gift, by forming our children in the faith, by proclaiming the Gospel in practical ways in daily life, by witnessing as best we can to and for Jesus Christ. How we share is outlined in today’s second reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. “Put on…heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another,…and over all these put on love,…the bond of perfection” (Col 3:12-14). Saint Paul adds that peace must rule our lives and that we should be grateful. He ends: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17). Yes, we share.

Thirdly, and finally, Thanksgiving is more than a word; it is even more than a day. Thanksgiving is truly an attitude woven into the fabric of daily life. Thanksgiving infuses our style of life. We are to be like the man in the Gospel. God intends for us, after having been with Him here in such a visible and tangible way in this Eucharist, to return home to our family, to our friends, to our neighborhood, to the workplace, with the awareness of all that He has done for us in His mercy and with the willingness to share who we are and what we have with others. In a very real sense we must be a Thanksgiving people every day. I mentioned at the beginning of Mass that the very word Eucharist in Greek means thanksgiving. Let our celebration be the sign in worship of the way we want to live. We want to live a life of giving thanks, and so Saint Paul’s words echo in our hearts: “Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks. Such is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Happy Thanksgiving!