"Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" -Lk 17-17-18
Friends, God is good, all the time. The holy writer tells us, "there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens," (Eccl 3:1). Today is the time to pause our busy get-going life as a nation, families, and individuals to appreciate the people, events, and circumstances that work together to give meaning and joy to our lives. And it is this I intend to do on this day of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is about two lofty virtues and ideals: love and care. We give thanks to God for loving and caring for our nation, families, and friends. There is no doubt that we have received the snow, the rains, and the sunshine, producing an abundance of food. We have also received life, good health, healing, new babies to the families, successes, and achievements, even challenges and failures for good reasons that may not immediately be known to us. Scripture says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8: 28).
Well, we also understand that God works through our families and friends. The love and care of our families and friends. Oh, how encouraging it is. The enticing love of the wife and mother, the protecting love of the husband and father, the serving love of children, and the supporting love of friends, can we forget it?
We know equally well that love is not complete unless it is expressed in caring. One person does not make and care for a family, a community, and church. It takes all of us caring for one another and caring for what we care about. The husband caring for the wife and children, the wife caring for husband and children, children caring for parents and siblings, friends caring for friends, priest, and parishioners caring for the church and parishioners, citizens caring for the members of the community and the nation is what makes life and love worthwhile and become the reason to give thanks today.
As the first Reading says, "And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to his will!" or as the second Reading says, "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, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you so that you do not lack in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" or as the Gospel Reading says," "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
We are not going to fail to acknowledge all the members of our families, friends, church, and neighborhoods for what each brings to enrich our lives. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all; happy Thanksgiving, America. Prayer blessings: Lord give us grateful hearts for the daily blessings we receive from you and all those around us. Amen.