I thank you, Lord,with all my heart; you have heard the words of my mouth. in the presence of the angels I praise you. I bow down toward your holy temple.
I give thanks to your name for you have exalted over all your name and your promise. On the day I called, you have answered me; you increased the strength of my soul.
The Lord is high, yet looks on the lowly, and the haughty God knows from afar. You give me life though I walk amid affliction; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes.
With your right hand you save me; the Lord will accomplish this for me. O Lord, your merciful love is eternal; discard not the work of your hands.
I will thank the Lord with all my heart, in the meeting of the just and the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord, to be pondered by all who delight in them
You give food to those who revere you; you are mindful of your covenant forever. You have shown mighty works to your peopleby giving them the heritage of nations!” Psalm 111
Thanksgiving 2020! This will be a holiday that few will ever forget! A national holiday taking place during a deadly worldwide pandemic, in the midst of political turmoil, and a worsening economy! Yet, we would do well to remember this holiday, it’s roots and how it has developed. And why we should celebrate it.
The first recorded celebration of a day of Thanksgiving was said to be by the small group of Pilgrims at Plymouth colony. We forget that they were a religious group, dissenters of the Church of England, persecuted by officials of the Crown. They came to America, not for economic reasons, but for religious freedom. They found their way to Massachusetts Bay by accident. They had to build a settlement by scratch. Their first harvests were poor, many died by starvation and illness. They had a good harvest in 1621, and declared a day of thanksgiving to God for it. Yes, there was feasting, but also prayer.
During the Civil War, shortly after the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln declared a national day of giving thanks to God for preserving the Union. President Ulysses S. Grant signed an Act of Congress that made Thanksgiving a National Holiday.
The current pandemic is challenging us as a country; we long to be with family, yet, we need to do all we can to keep each other safe. That may mean being physically separated from each other. But whether we are able to communicate through the Web, by telephone, or by old fashion letter; we must not forget that we are united as a family.
And we must remember that we are all united in Jesus Christ. We are all tightly embraced by the Father. And He will give us the strength, the hope, and the faith to get through this. For this, we should give thanks!
“Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor. And all blessing.” The Canticle of Brother Sun – St. Francis of Assisi
118 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Musings From St. Anthony's Walnut Tree 