Focus on Thanksgiving

11-06-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Michael Straley

November is a month to focus on Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for here at St. Bernard’s. Yes, we all have problems and issues, and our elections will bring some anger and disappointment, but we cannot let those things dominate our spirit. In Old Greek, the word “eucharist” means thanksgiving. We are a Eucharistic people, a thanksgiving people.

Our consumer society always wants us to focus on what we want rather than on our blessings.. It is like food, the more we eat the bigger our desire (stomach) becomes. There is always more that we want which means there is always something we do not have and cannot have. If we let this be our spirit, then we will always be frustrated and angry, wondering why God doesn’t give us more.

In the Book of Wisdom we are reminded that “God did not make death, nor does He rejoice in the destruction of the living.” So often I hear people say, “Why is God doing this to me?” or “Why did God take my friend or spouse from me?” God didn’t do it! When we focus on blessings, even the blessing of having someone in our life who has passed away, instead of the loss, we can be a “thanksgiving people” rather than looking for more time, more things, more blessings.

Next month is Christmas and we Catholics are called to be thankful for the gift of God’s Son in our lives and the salvation He brings. Please don’t let Christmas, or any part of your life be more about wanting more than thanksgiving for our many blessings.

Have a wonderful “Thanksgiving Month.”