RBWords

[Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 - These are proper readings for Thanksgiving Day, U.S.A..  To find a reflection on the Ordinary Time scriptures, Thurs. 34 - 1, one may use the search feature at <www.rbwords.com>.]

 

    

     The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year in the USA!  People seem to make the effort to go somewhere to give thanks!  This year the travel has been complicated by a huge winter storm!  I find myself reflecting on the leper who "realizes" that he has been healed and returns to give thanks to Jesus!  Could it be that millions of Americans, on this one day of the year, "realize" the blessings in their lives and in some way "give thanks?"  It seems we have been doing this since the very first Europeans set foot on American soil.  The official declaration of the day dates to President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War! 

 

     The leper catches my attention because he realizes where the blessing of his healing came from!  In an age of rampant secularism we may easily fall into the belief that every "blessing" we have is the result of human effort, especially our own, and fail to acknowledge God's providential care.  We may also fail to realize that many of our citizens may feel they have very little to be thankful about because of homelessness, disease, unemployment, hunger [on Thanksgiving Day, that is truly a sorrow!].  As we "thank" God, I hope we will also find a way to "give" to those for whom this day will be otherwise just another day of trouble!

 

     We don't know what became of the nine other lepers.  They were healed but only the Samaritan came back to give thanks!  I hope we too as individuals, families and nation can imitate his example.  Maybe we can send an invitation to the other nine to join us!  Happy Thanksgiving!  AMEN