October 2016
1 Cor 13 : 1-13
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
Vincentian Reflection
Tonights reading is the recommended reading for Thanksgiving Day this year. And yes, it’s that time of year again.
Thanksgiving Holiday. The Holidays. The New Year Holiday. In Europe, people take Holidays – what we Americans would call vacations.
But here’s a fun fact that everyone may not know or remember; the etymology or root of the work Holiday is literally “Holy Day”, for which the definition is “a day set aside specifically for religious observation and devotion.
But be it a Holiday or a Holy Day, Thanksgiving remains mostly untarnished – a feast day of giving thanks. Even in our increasingly faith-hostile secular world, this purpose remains intact.
The obvious gifts are easy…health (or what passes for that), relative wealth, family and friends…I’m confident all here will in their own manner reflect and give praise to The Lord for these and the many gifts we have received on this Thanksgiving.
Of course, as practicing Catholics, our Church encourages us to give thanks each day and for everything God the Father gives us, both the desirable and those special gifts that are less than instantly pleasurable.
I invite everyone to join me by including in those things for which you are most Thankful, the opportunity this gathering provides…the opportunity to collectively do The Lord’s work in a way none of us could do individually.
Like the Samaritan who returned to Jesus to thank and praise him for being cleansed, I thank Christ Jesus for the gift of this loving and caring group and the opportunity to serve in his name.
Welcome to 10 Angels 