Thanks...For Nothing!

Brothers and sisters:                                                                 Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, and by him, you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!  Today is the day many families will gather and continue the traditions that make our families what they are.  Typical disasters will befall us.  Turkeys will tumble on the floor. ovens will burn rolls, bread will fail to rise, and at least one of the children will be in a bad mood.  Some turkeys will be cooked with the plastic bags of giblets and "gravy" still inside the bird.  In man caves, nationwide men will gather and speak knowledgeably about college teams they know nothing about as their eyes and spirits feast on multiple games of football displayed on huge television screens, while they consume nacho chips, cheese, and beer at near world record rates while waiting to be called to dinner.  Then, finally, dinner is served and everyone comes to the table as the perfectly roasted turkey is brought to the table and everyone is served their preferred meat, white, dark, or drumstick.  Before a bite is taken, the founder of the feast leads the assembled in a short prayer of thanksgiving to God for the warmth, food, and companionship of this day. All too soon, the meal ends and the last piece of pumpkin pie finds its way into Uncle George's ample belly and everyone adjourns to the living room as their spirits enter the world of the turkey food coma. 

Today, in the United States we take a moment to look at ourselves and what we have been given by our Almighty Father in heaven.  No matter who we are, no matter how humble of a dwelling we have, God has given us an abundance. Today we take time to thank Him for all he has given to us.  I recommend we also thank God for the things He has NOT given us.  There are gifts we truly would love to have in addition to what we have already. Sometimes these gifts do not seem to come our way no matter how hard we try to acquire them.  If this is the case then we must include on this day of thanksgiving, thanks for the things that God in His wisdom has withheld from us.  God our Father knows us better than we know ourselves.  He loves us more than we could love ourselves in a million years. He truly knows what is best for us.  If we are truly thankful on this day,  then we should thank God for everything.  We should thank Him for what we have, those we love, for our country, for our faith, and for His sending His Son to save us from our sins.  We should also say, "Thank you, Father, for the things that in your wisdom you have withheld from me.  I know you do this out of love for me and your wisdom will assure me of a happy life here on earth and eternity with you in heaven." 

God bless and keep you on this Thanksgiving Day! 

Please do not forget the poor souls in Purgatory on this Thanksgiving day.  Please spend a moment or two in prayer for them.  Pray for your family and friends that might be there, even if they are not, they prayers are not wasted.  Pray especially for the forgotten soul who has been there the longest and has no one to pray for him or her.  Please remember: As they are one day you might be. 

Thanksgiving - Should God Continue to Bless Us?

Thanksgiving Day is a lot of things to us Americans. It is: 

• A day off from work or school.
• A day of eating, drinking, and making merry. 
• A day to watch parades with large balloons. 
• A day to be sit and watch football games. 
• A day to stuff a turkey and ourselves.

This day should also be a day to think very carefully about the blessings we have received from God, both the blessings we have received in common as a nation (supposedly) under God and for the blessings we have personally received. 

The very fact that the United States has lasted over two hundred years so far shows that God is still blessing us.  Why He continues his benevolence to such wayward children as we are is a mystery to me. We are very disobedient to Him.  America today is not the same America our ancestors could look up to.  In the olden days abortion was recognized as a repugnant evil by not only the Catholic Church but also by most main line denominations.  Today The Catholic Church stands almost alone in opposition to the murder of babies in the womb.  We also have forsaken the seven capital virtues for the seven capital sins.  Our Supreme Court has stepped in and reinvented marriage. No longer is marriage between a man and a women, a sacred covenant instituted by God. No, now it is a question of "equality."  Sadly, this same court has decided that even those of us who are opposed to birth control must furnish it for everyone who wants it in spite of the fact that we consider it sinful.  So I guess one thing we should be thankful for is for the fact that God continues to bless us in spite of our evil ways. 

As far as personal blessings go, I thank God for all of the things he has placed in my life, both the good things and the things that I view as not so good which are there to help make me strong.  I also thank Him for the things He has chosen to withhold from me because His wisdom is supreme in all things. 

The challenge is still open...Convert The Catholic - tell me why I should leave the Catholic Church, make your strongest case. Who knows maybe you will convince me!  

God bless you this day.