Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 28, 2019 - 4th Thurs. in Nov. - Thanksgiving Day
[Sirach 50:22-24; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19]I give thanks to 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, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians]
Thanksgiving is a time when we give thanks TO someONE FOR someTHING! At many dinner tables around the country, families and friends will join hands and give thanks TO God FOR a particular blessing. The blessing may be material in the form of a job or relationship or good health, etc. That is the someTHING. The prayer of thanksgiving, however, is addressed to someONE. For those who have faith in God, that prayer is addressed to God, but when possible, we could include the persons on earth who contribute to that blessing: family, friends, even a random kind stranger! The gospel account of Jesus and the leper today shows the leper realizing the gift he has received and returning to give thanks TO Jesus FOR the healing, and "glorifying God!"
When I think of the blessings that I have in the form of family, religious community and good health, I can only be grateful! I am particularly thankful for the gift of friendship which sustains me every day. My many years in campus ministry have been the source of that gift, and my informal campus ministry here in Lubbock at Texas Tech has added to that in marvelous ways. St. Paul's prayer of thanksgiving is one I pray for my student friends every day!
I join today in the prayer from the Book of Sirach, in the first scripture, for all my friends, family and religious community: "May God grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you..." AMEN