I feel so inspired on this Thanksgiving Day after having attended Mass earlier. I have come to embrace Mass as a great way to set the tone for this US holy day. The first thanksgiving celebrations hearken back in history before the Pilgrims, to Masses that Spanish explorers and settlers held in the 16th Century.
Then, in the context of history, once the USA was independent, President Washington issued a proclamation in 1789 for November 26 to be a day "to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be".
President Lincoln issued a proclamation 74 years later that established Thanksgiving as an annual holiday, "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father".
And President Biden's Thanksgiving Proclamation for 2021 states, "Thanksgiving provides us with a time to reflect on our many blessings--from God, this nation, and each other. We are grateful for these blessings, even--and especially--during times of challenge."
Indeed, it's clear from these presidential proclamations that God is the source of all that is good, and how wonderful this holiday reminds us of that great Truth and inspires us to live it more fully that day, as we open ourselves to seeing God's goodness all around us, and those who show it to us.
I continue to remain grateful for the opportunity that Religious Education class has provided me over the years to demonstrate my ability to show care for other people and for the blessing my students have been. I think about how two of my former students have birthdays today.
And I even think about how one of my cousins out in the Denver Metro Area has a birthday today, too, and how wonderful it has been to know all those in the Denver area and beyond.
In just a few days, my family will mark 29 years since the day we moved to Oak Park. I abound in Thanksgiving for a great home that has shaped me so wonderfully into the person I am. It is indeed more than a home, as it has been the setting for formative experiences that have defined my identity through the events and relationships that have been part of my life in this home.
Just a few days ago marked 5 years since Moana debuted in theaters. I was captivated by the story the first time I saw the movie. Moana certainly had a special relationship with her grandmother, who helped me understand her calling that drove her on a mission with a great sense of purpose. Surely our relationships define us and give us purpose in a similar way.
Today is also special for one family, as it marks 40 years since the birthday of Jenna and Barbara Bush, who are the only twins born to a US presidential couple. I listened to their book via audiobook, which is entitled Sisters First. Even though they've grown into amazing accomplished women who have achieved much and now have their own husbands and children, they still share a special bond that transcends time and space. It was fitting that I listened to this book during my trip to Florida earlier this year to visit my family there, Naomi, Eric, and Weasley. There was much about the journey there and back that took great effort. And at one point, when it looked like I would miss my connecting train, my parents were ready to get me on a flight south from Washington, D.C. Though I ended up boarding the connecting train, I was touched by their willingness to jump in and offer me help.
This week also marks 15 years since the opening of Buttered Bunns Cafe in Miami, OK--at least, based on a piece of artwork I saw in the restaurant with the date "11-24-06". About 4 1/2 years after it opened, I went with the group on my storm chasing trip in college to share a meal there when we spent the 2nd night of our trip in Miami, upon recommendation of the staff at our hotel. It was a great meal there indeed, but also a great time being together.
Indeed, there's something powerful about relationships, and points us to the great Truth that God is the source of all good. Maybe that's why Mass this morning had such a transcendent quality. While God is unseen, we know He's real as we take the time to recognize His presence and goodness all around us. We call upon Him knowing that despite our sins and failings, He is merciful and heals us in the midst of sin and all troubles we face in this broken world. And we marvel at the great bounty of joys and blessings that He bestows.
And that is a reality worth celebrating every day, even as it inspires us to make much of those blessings and those relationships.
Indeed, as they say in the Lakota language, Mitakuye Oyasin: All my relations.
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| Food donations surrounding the altar at Ascension Church following Thanksgiving Day morning Mass |
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