Homily for Thanksgiving Day

Celebrating harvest festivals is a tradition that dates back to the dawn of history. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day has its roots in the harvest season, but it has been detached from this event since the time of Abraham Lincoln. He set the date as the last Thursday in November, and the day became a time to return thanks to a bountiful creator.

Gratitude is an important aspect of Thanksgiving, and it should be personal and intimate. For people who have come close to death or survived cancer, gratitude is ever-present. Life takes on new meaning, and they hold it dear.

Most of us celebrate Thanksgiving whether we have anything specific to be thankful for. However, we must remember to attach our thanksgiving to real human situations.

In today's Gospel, Jesus heals ten lepers. Nine of them are only concerned about being cured, changing their terrible life situation. Once that happens, they go their merry way. They had to go to the priest to be declared clean before they could be admitted back into society. But after that happened, they forgot about Jesus. He was just a step on the way.

Our situation is similar. We were outsiders because of sin, far away from our homeland with no resources of our own to return. We, too, have been reconciled, brought close by the mercy of God shown to us in Christ Jesus.

We have two roads stretching out before us. One is the road of forgetfulness, the other the road of remembrance. To remember is to be grateful. It is to be in touch with who we are and who God is. It is to be aware that God loves us and has chosen us as a special people.

The Samaritan chose the way of remembrance and returned to give thanks. How can we imitate this good man and make his attitude of gratitude a way of life rather than a passing thought?

The Gospel story we have just heard is a parable of sin and forgiveness. Only one of the ten lepers became aware and moved into a new relationship with God and himself. He did not return and grovel before Jesus. The culmination of the story shows a man overwhelmed with gratitude and, at the same time, overwhelmed with humility. He "…praised God in a loud voice and threw himself at Jesus' feet."

Each day at the Eucharist, we receive forgiveness and the gift of reconciliation with God. We enjoy the undeserved status of God's own special people. Jesus tells us to celebrate the Eucharist in remembrance of Him. This remembrance brings gratitude into our hearts.