November2015 E-pistle
Thoughts
Thanksgiving. Food, drink, the air we breathe, the beauty of creation, our friends and family, our very lives – God has given us all these things and more. God has given us divine life in the Trinity through Baptism; forgiveness and reconciliation in Confession; his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist. And, through the salvation won on the Cross, God gives us the hope of eternal life in heaven. Let us truly give thanks!
Challenge
Celebrate Thanksgiving every day for the rest of this month. Seek to avoid a critical spirit and adopt an attitude of gratitude. Thank God throughout the day for even the little blessings – sunshine, clothes, a roof over your head, a smile from a stranger. Say “Thank you” to others frequently. Especially to those whose kindness you might take for granted (your spouse, parents, children, friends and co-workers). Receive the “Eucharist” (which comes from a word which means “thanksgiving”) more frequently, perhaps on Thanksgiving Day as well.
Go Deeper
+ The Catholic Origins of Thanksgiving
+ Seven Ways to Keep a Gratitude Journal
+ CDs from Lighthouse Catholic Media on the Eucharist
+ Video: Thanksgiving from a Franciscan Perspective
+ The Virtual of Gratitude by Fr. Romano Guardini
+ Gratitude: The Heart of Thanksgiving