Today is Thanksgiving Day. Every day is thanksgiving day! Thanking God is at the heart of the examen of consciousness that St. Ignatius recommends we do twice a day. It is a spiritual exercise that directs us to look back over our day to see God there, and to savor those moments where God has been walking with us, to thank God for the people in our lives who have helped us, enriched us. Wherever there is an increase of joy, of uplift, of encouragement, there is Christ with His Father and their Holy Spirit, working in concert, in community, in us. It is for these moments that we give thanks, not just for the autumn harvest of vegetable and fruits. For the harvest, too, is within us – and among us.
We certainly see the harvest among us in this parish in great abundance of good will and generosity at our very happy Christmas bazaar, just concluded. Think of all the people who came from our city, in the county and beyond. Think of all the seed of evangelization that was sown in all this. God will bring this to good harvest. Think of all the effort from so many parishioners, expending time, talent and treasure. God will bless them for their generosity. All of this is an image of The Trinity, the three persons, working together, the community Saints on earth, building the kingdom of God among us. It is pre-image of the kingdom of God in heaven.
In the years when I would fly home for Thanksgiving, I would say to my cousin Lorenzo, when we were seated around the holiday dining table, “Loren, this is what heaven is going to be like – all the time. And we won’t need to refill the wine glasses.” This is a glimpse of eternity a foretaste of the eternal banquet. Savor these moments of peace. That is what remaining or dwelling in Christ’s love means. Christ is present there, here, in these moments of rest and peace and contentment with family and friends around the banquet table. Heaven is within, here, there, in all these adverbs of place, wherever I live and move and have my being. In peace. “Peace I leave you.” Peace I give to you.” We approach the Eucharistic to be renewed in Christ’s Peace. And we thank God for it.