"It is openness to the whole, to the infinite, that makes man complete. Man is man by reaching out infinitely beyond himself and he is consequently more of a man the less enclosed he is in himself, the less "limited" he is. For - let me repeat - that man is most man, indeed the true man, who is most unlimited, who not only has contact with the infinite - the infinite being! - but is one with him: Jesus Christ."        
                                                    
                                                                                            - Introduction to Christianity

A people of thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. I’ve been hearing a lot about thanksgiving for quite some time this season…and not only hearing about it but talking about it too. And it’s sooo good to be excited, excited to give thanks! We should do it often and wholeheartedly. With all ourselves and with great enthusiasm!  We have every reason to be a people bursting in thanksgiving. There’s so much to be thankful for, and we need only look around us to see about a million reasons.

It’s actually the day after Thanksgiving, but yesterday was quick and busy. I had a great time with my family, cooking with my sister, sharing great meal times, relaxing, chatting. But now that the hustle and bustle that comes with pretty much any holiday is over, I want to take the time to take in and quietly reflect on what this time is all about.

Gratitude, thanksgiving. Joy.

The three are distinct but also intricately connected. If we aren’t experiencing one, we’re kinda missing the mark. What is life without gratitude? Without thanksgiving? Without joy?

It’s easy to express thankfulness, to say “thank you”…but do we really feel it in our hearts? Do we mean it? Are we simply putting on the facade of thanksgiving or actually giving thanks?

I had to ask myself a lot recently:

1. Do I appreciate what God has blessed me with? Or am I constantly asking for more?

                Often, our “thankfulness” is accompanied by a surprising “need” to accumulate more. Let’s face the ugly facts…sometimes, thanksgiving time brings out the worst in us. It brings out our ingratitude and hunger for more… especially as shoppers. Why is that? Yesterday, I decided to venture out for Black Friday sales to see what all the talk was about…and now I get why it's sometimes called “Midnight madness”….it really was madness. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely a fan of sales. I rummaged through all the sale papers, did my share of research, and even had a list of go-to stores for the night. I was all set. But….by the time I got there and experienced the “madness”…I quickly had enough. It’s surprising to believe that we had just celebrated “thanksgiving” for what we have. How far will we go to get what we want/”need”? If I have all things…but do not have love…I am nothing (1 Cor 13).

It makes sense that we would be unsatisfied here. While we should be forever grateful, our hearts should long for more. We were made for more. What we’ve experienced so far is only a foretaste. We are appreciative, but also living in hope of eternity with our Lord. For everlasting joy and endless celebration of thanksgiving to God. But my longing for the infinite cannot be met in finite things. We must stop searching and let Him fill and consume us. 

2. Do I compare my gifts, talents, blessings, lives with others? By quality or number?

                God gives graciously to all as He sees fitting and as they need it. He knows our hearts. And as scripture tells us, “all good-giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights (James 1).” He gives perfect gifts, and if my life is a gift perfectly-given…then I have no need to compare!

3. Do I feel thankful and express it in the way that I live?

I desperately fail in giving thanks sometimes. Most times. Almost all the time.

To give thanks we must first experience a reason to be thankful in our hearts. We must have gratitude. Gratitude is that overwhelming experience of love and appreciation for something. When we feel truly grateful for something, it pours out in the way that we live. We give of ourselves to others more freely. We live with great joy and peace.

Throughout the busyness of “celebrating” and “doing”, I had to stop several times and ask myself….”Am I truly grateful or am I waiting around for the next momentary pleasure or gift? How can I better live gratefulness?”

Gratitude, thanksgiving, joy.

Gratitude for the immeasurable blessings and grace over my life. Joy in living the life granted to me, the ability to experience it, and specifically joy in where I am with God right now. And thanks-giving for everything. For the goodness of the material things but more importantly the spiritual ones. For His faithfulness and provision, the gift of faith, adoption by the Father through the Son, His sacrificial cross, experiencing His love, a faith family – the Church, and the hope of oneness with Him eternally.

"The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation. In Eucharistic sacrifice the whole of creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death and Resurrection of Christ. Through Christ the Church can offer the sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has made good, beautiful, and just in creation and in humanity.

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."

The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of all creation. This sacrifice of praise is only possible through Christ: he unites the faithful to his person, to his praise, and to his intercession, so that the sacrifice of praise to the Father is offered through Christ and with him, to be accepted in him." - CCC 1359-1361

Let’s take time to consider our blessings, time to engage in them, and time to notice those quiet whisperings of God…those moments especially infused with His spirit.

God, make us always a people of thanksgiving.