Joyful Thanks

Homily for Thanksgiving Day
28 November 2013

        On behalf of Father Bob, Father Sebastian, Deacon Dave, Deacon Jack and the entire parish staff, we would like to extend to you and yours the warmest wishes for a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.

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        Grazie. Gracias. Merci. Danke. Efharisto. Obrigado. Xie xie. Shukran. Toda. Spasibo. Asante. Arigato. Tack. Thank you.

        There are many ways to say “thank you”.

        However, my brothers and sisters, if these words of gratitude are spoken without the right attitude, they’re just words.

        We gather here on this day in particular to give thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us in this year. However, my friends, what we say and do here today must be spoken and performed with the right attitude, or we’re just paying God lip service.

        This “right attitude” we’re speaking of is joy. If we don’t have joy in our hearts while giving thanks – whether it be to God or to another person –, then we completely miss the reason we give thanks:

        We give thanks because we are joyful people.

        A sour heart cannot give thanks.

        Our First Reading (Sirach 50:22-24) and Gospel (John 16:20-22) speak to us of a forthcoming joy that the Lord wishes to impart upon us. They speak of a joy that will come at the end of our sufferings, trials, and tribulations. They speak of a joy that is everlasting.

        Yet that joy is already ours.

        Our God knows that we are a broken people, that we are a group of pilgrims on a journey from this life to the next. He knows our sufferings, our pains, and, yet, He continues to assure us of a lasting joy that can begin in this world and will carry over into the next.

        And this joy begins with our encounter with Jesus. This joy is that which comes from coming to know Him through Word and Sacrament. This joy becomes everlasting the more we live out the Gospel message in our lives.

“The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.”

        These words are given to us as the opening statement of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, “The Joy of the Gospel”, presented to the Church by Pope Francis only a few days ago. Our Holy Father wishes to remind us that a life lived in Christ will constantly allow us to find joy in this world, even in the midst of suffering.

        And this is why we are thankful. And this is why we give thanks.

        This great Eucharist, this great thanksgiving in which we now participate in is the soul’s joyful response to the many blessings and benefits that the Lord has given to us. This does not negate the fact that we have all suffered throughout this year, but, rather, allows us to rejoice in that knowledge that our sufferings, whether small or great, unlock the door for us to know the joy and peace which only God can give. This great thanksgiving, this Eucharist is that encounter with Christ in Word and Sacrament in which our joy is born anew.

        Through Him, our words become more than words.

        With Him, our actions continue to build the Kingdom on Earth.

        In Him, we glorify the Father, who gives us everything that is good.

        This day will bring about much happiness to many people. Yet our celebrations must truly reflect the interior joy that we are to make manifest. You and I must be able to truly radiate the joy of Christ to our family and friends this day. Smiling and laughter are not just reactions to “happy feelings”, but are manifestations of true joy in one’s life.

        My brothers and sisters, on this great day of thanks, we turn to our God and recognize that all that we have comes from Him – and we are grateful. As we celebrate this Eucharist, this great thanksgiving today, we do so with joy, for we know that this encounter with Christ today will assist us in making our lives a total thanksgiving to God.

        Perhaps the best way to sum this up is to use the great quote by the Catholic writer Hilaire Belloc:

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!”

        The sun may not be shining today, and it may be a bit colder than we would like, but there is much for us to be grateful for. Thanks be to God for this opportunity today to joyfully say, “Thank You”.

 



Enjoy the journey . . .