Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It was always a fun time as a child as I would travel with my immediate family to visit my extended family in Connecticut. We had great traditions of baking pies on Wednesday, playing football, and eating Thanksgiving “lunch” with my mom’s side of the family and then my dad’s side for dinner. It didn’t get much better than that. Every part of my stomach was filled to capacity with wonderful food, I had the opportunity to play games, and I was surrounded by my loving family.
Thanksgiving is still an exciting time and as we all prepare for Thanksgiving, it is important to think about the big picture. It is easy, just like with anything, to make it into something that is just a routine. Many of us completely forget the thankful part and head straight for the stuffing (or whatever food option is our favorite), but we miss a big factor.
It is great that we are given this opportunity, this holiday, to take a small break and be grateful because we do nothing on our own. Everything that is good comes from God, even our actions. We are constantly flooded with graces and we should be grateful. Whether it is our family, friends, or the basic necessities we are grateful for, we have a start.
Ultimately the greatest thing we can be grateful for is the Eucharist. Eucharist even means “thanksgiving”. I can clearly remember each Thanksgiving going to Mass with my family, and it was just a part of what we did but now I am beginning to understand that it is the most important part of that day, and everyday.
Jesus makes present His sacrifice of himself on the cross through the priest. Jesus offers Himself to us in a way that we are able to consume. Jesus comes into us. No other god humbles themself to the point of becoming a measly piece of bread so that we can eat it. No other god comes into us to love us in an intimate way. No other god dies on a cross in a humiliating way in order to save us even though it is our sins that cause Him to hang on the cross. It is our God who demonstrates this love and thirsts for us to respond.
May this Thanksgiving be one in which you find the greatest substance to be grateful for in the Eucharist.
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All Praise and All Thanksgiving be every moment Thine.
No comments:
Post a Comment