Time to Give Thanks!

Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Day

Nov 27, 2024

We all have a lot to be thankful for. Although Thanksgiving isn’t a holy day, it’s a secular holiday that brings our nation together as a whole, and families together in a smaller but no less important way.

Personally, I want to thank all of you for reading this Substack. I try my best to reflect on God’s word and pass on whatever knowledge I find along the way. It’s by God’s grace if any of this is of value to you, dear reader.

Reading I

Sir 50:22-24

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!
May he grant you joy of heart
   and may peace abide among you;
May his goodness toward us endure in Israel
   to deliver us in our days.

Ben Sira reminds us, in the writing of this passage, to thank God first, before our petitions. It’s okay to ask God for help, but don’t forget everything He’s already done.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R.     I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
   and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
   his greatness is unsearchable.
R.   I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
   and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
   and tell of your wondrous works.
R.   I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
   and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
   and joyfully sing of your justice.
R.   I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
   and compassionate toward all his works.
R.   I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
   and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
   and speak of your might.
R.    I will praise your name for ever, Lord

We must pass our faith and gratitude down through the generations. That’s why national holidays like Thanksgiving are important—if we don’t consciously transmit our values, they’ll be lost. The annual cycle of holidays reminds the whole society to give thanks and praise.

Reading II

1 Cor 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul traveled the world preaching the Gospel, but he doesn’t take credit for its success. Instead, he thanks God for making up for any lack on his part.

We should always remember that we’re never on our own. God supports us in ways we may not even be aware of, so we should always be thankful.

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1 Thes 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This follows a pair of verses that say “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” The advice is simple, but effective.

Gospel

Lk 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Faith alone is not enough. All ten lepers had faith. They called out to Jesus, because they believed He could heal them.

We don’t actually know why the nine didn’t come back, but I found this list1 of possibilities—

One waited to see if the cure was real.
One waited to see if it would last.
One said he would see Jesus later.
One decided that he had never had leprosy.
One said he would have gotten well anyway.
One gave the glory to the priests.
One said, O well, Jesus didn’t really DO anything.
One said, just any rabbi could have done it.
One said, I was already much improved.

None of these are justified, of course, but I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t identify with at least some of these.

Image of That at least could be understood, if not condoned.

We shouldn’t make excuses to not give thanks, nor thank the wrong person.2 The miracles in our lives may not be as obvious curing leprosy, but we still have a lot to be thankful for.

In all circumstances, give thanks to God.

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