Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we
could prepare for Thanksgiving in a way that helps make it a deeply spiritual
experience? What could you do to make that happen? I offer a few suggestions.
·
First of all, the day before Thanksgiving
is an important time to give thought and prayer to these matters. Most of us
will be busy, preoccupied or distracted by all the preparations on Thursday, by
the visiting and celebrating that takes place in household. In a sense, on
Thanksgiving we are all “Marthas.” Wednesday offers us to be more like “Mary”
and to take the time and quiet to reflect and to listen to the promptings of
the Spirit Who will lead us into a deep sense of gratitude if we stay open and
attentive.
·
By all means, if at all possible, go to Mass
either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Never forget that the Mass itself
is the ultimate act of thanksgiving to God. “The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing
by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for
all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.
Eucharist means first of all ‘thanksgiving.’” (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, # 1360)
·
Find a few moments of solitude and a quiet
place; take a journal or notebook or simply a piece of paper and make a gratitude
list of all the things you are thankful for. Don’t overthink this; in fact,
if at all possible, let it be automatic writing. If something comes to mind,
jot it down. Continue until you have nothing more to write. The benefits of
making such a list are not only spiritual; this activity also can have a
powerful effect on the emotions and on our mental state. (And, by the way, you
don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to do such a thing. Any time will do.)
Blessed Thankgsiving to all of
you. I thank God for giving me the inspiration to write these reflections, and
I thank him for you who read them, and for those of you who give me feedback
every now and then.
The next Reflection will be on Friday, November 27.
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