Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving

Finally, my blog post is on time! Here is a thanksgiving homily I had to prepare. One personal side reflection: holidays are especially difficult times to be away from home, simply because they are times for families to get together. As I spend these days away, I reminded of Christ who was not welcome in his homeland, abandoned by his best friends, and crucified by the very people He served. He was able to do all this, firstly because He was God, but He also knew that He belonged in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven. We, too, must remember that we are pilgrims on earth, journeying to the heavenly Jerusalem--union with the most Holy Trinity. Now for that homily:

“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me to you, O Lord, now I return it; all is yours, dispose of me wholly and according to your Will. Give me only your love and your grace, for this is enough for me.”

I begin with this quote from St. Ignatius because it captures the very essence of what it means to be grateful, to have a spirit of thanksgiving. Ignatius cuts to the core, to the very fact that there is absolutely NOTHING that we can claim to be ours except for our sinfulness. Everything else, all that we have and possess, is from the Lord. What does this mean practically? It means that we ought to be thankful for everything that we receive. That’s right, everything!

We’ve all had days when it seems like nothing else could go wrong. We are amidst great trial. These are the moments when it is most difficult to be grateful—when we encounter the Cross. Yet, we ought to be grateful even for our suffering! It can seem quite silly to thank God for the Cross, if we look at it by itself. HOWEVER, if we see that the Lord permits our crosses for the benefit of our souls, it quickly turns into an extremely welcome gift.

The book of Sirach puts it best: “My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation” (2:1-5).

Be assured that there is nothing that God can’t use for good. So thank God for the trying moments, those moments of despair, when we are forced to completely rely on the Lord—those are the moments when we are being tested in fire—that we may become gold.

“Bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters men's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to HIS will!” (Sirach 50:24). Thankfully, the Father doesn’t form us according to our will, for it would only lead to failure. Thankfully, HE forms us to HIS will—for it leads to perfection, even when it seems like it is leading to despair. Have hope!

So, whatever blessings we may receive from the Lord this Thanksgiving day, whether it be a united family, a bountiful feast, or even just a day off of work, don’t forget the good that comes from our trials, our Crosses, and don’t forget to thank God for them!