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Hello everybody! Happy Thanksgiving!
A continuing trend in religious practice is known as the “rise of the nones.” It indicates the growing number of people in the United States that are unaffiliated with any particular religion (none). Added to that is the trend of decreasing church attendance. Some have seen these trends as a crisis of faith, and they may be. On a national level, our Catholic Eucharistic Revival is an effort to increase and bolster our faith and trust in God, who is truly present and with his people in the Eucharist. I think it’s possible, however, that it’s not a crisis of faith, but a crisis of gratitude. In every mass we pray, “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks.” The word Eucharist, itself, means thanksgiving. Gratitude is more than just an attitude. Gratitude, to be real, needs to be expressed. Our gathering for worship to give thanks is a concrete expression of our gratitude. It makes our gratitude more than thoughts or words, but an action.
As we gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving, our time together, preparations, and cooking are concrete expressions of our gratitude. It is the same when we come together each week for mass. Having been blessed by God, we concretely give thanks to him. I am truly grateful to be your pastor, for each of you and your journey of faith, for your amazing generosity and engagement for the good of others, and for the love that we share in Christ. It is truly humbling and I will give thanks to God for these blessings at the 10:00 a.m. mass on Thursday, but each mass we celebrate together is our concrete expression of gratitude to God. In this season of giving thanks, may God increase and bolster our gratitude. May we see more clearly, however, that it is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere, to give God thanks.
Thank you and may God bless you and yours on this Thanksgiving Holiday!
Peace,
Fr. Jeff
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