Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 23, 2017 - 4th Thurs. in Nov. - Thanksgiving Day
[Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; ,Luke 17:11-19]THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017 THANKSGIVING DAY, U.S.A. [Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19] I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way.....[1 Corinthians] I have found as I am getting older (I am 74) that the best way to cope with aging is an attitude of gratitude, especially to God. On Thanksgiving Day, this attitude requires a lot of effort because of the sheer number of blessings involved. First and foremost are the people for whom I pray every morning on my "rosary walk." Each one of them represents a story in my life (and, no doubt, in theirs, too) This includes my family and Dominican brothers and sisters, and friends, as well as the particular students here at Texas Tech for whom I pray daily. Then there are the many who are in the "Beloved Congregation" whom I have never met but who are part of this daily effort to reflect on the Word of God. So, people come first in my attitude of gratitude. I would have to add thanks for good health, a great community of friars with whom I live, and my preaching/campus ministry here at Texas Tech and wherever I am invited to preach retreats and parish missions. However, the many people and things for whom and which I am so grateful are also a reminder to me of those who suffer from want of these, especially all the refugees in the many encampments in the Middle East and Africa. Closer by are those in this community of Lubbock who lack the resources to enjoy even the food that this day features in our national celebration. I know of parishioners who are experiencing the recent loss of loved ones in an accident. This Thanksgiving falls on the anniversary of my own sister's death, which adds a note of appreciation and sadness at one and the same time. St. Paul's gratitude for the Corinthians, who gave him no small number of pastoral headaches, is an example for us today, as is the Samaritan leper whom Jesus heals. That leper receives not only physical healing, but restoration to his family and community. That is a lot to be grateful for, and I hope we can all share in that gratitude on this day, to the loving God who has blessed us. AMENz
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