Thanksgiving - for Christ the King!
This week we celebrate two holidays, one religious and the other – while not quite so religious – carries deep religious significance: Christ the King (the last Sunday of the Church year) and Thanksgiving.
Although Thanksgiving Day is not specifically a Catholic holy day, it certainly goes hand in hand with our life of faith. We know that gratitude is central to the Gospel message. Thanksgiving Day presents us with the perfect opportunity to look at this particular aspect of our faith. If that weren’t enough, our celebration as Jesus Christ as King of Heaven and Earth remind us of our call to thanksgiving to the One who has given all that we are and have. So we are called to be grateful – how do we respond?
Of course, this can be a difficult challenge: we struggle in various ways with gratitude. It’s fair to say that we will never be grateful enough until we come to understand how even our difficulties can work within God’s plan when it is revealed at the end. But for now, it’s important to look at gratitude and to try to let it increase in our souls. First, we will never be grateful unless we see clearly all that God has done for us. It’s so easy in life to focus in on all the struggles we face and, as a result, to get depressed, frustrated and even angry at times. What’s far more challenging is to look beyond the crosses and burdens we face each day to see the abundance of grace and mercy given to us by our Lord. Unless and until we see that mercy and grace, we’ll struggle with gratitude.
Do we see what God has done for us, how His abundance of mercy is alive in our life? The good news is that, if we can humbly admit that we struggle with gratitude, we’ve taken the first step towards cultivating the deeper gratitude we should have. Gratitude is how we start to see the truth and the joy of the Gospels more clearly. Be open to that truth and God will change your life as He fills you with joy.
A blessed and Happy Thanksgiving and glory to our Heavenly King!
Although Thanksgiving Day is not specifically a Catholic holy day, it certainly goes hand in hand with our life of faith. We know that gratitude is central to the Gospel message. Thanksgiving Day presents us with the perfect opportunity to look at this particular aspect of our faith. If that weren’t enough, our celebration as Jesus Christ as King of Heaven and Earth remind us of our call to thanksgiving to the One who has given all that we are and have. So we are called to be grateful – how do we respond?
Of course, this can be a difficult challenge: we struggle in various ways with gratitude. It’s fair to say that we will never be grateful enough until we come to understand how even our difficulties can work within God’s plan when it is revealed at the end. But for now, it’s important to look at gratitude and to try to let it increase in our souls. First, we will never be grateful unless we see clearly all that God has done for us. It’s so easy in life to focus in on all the struggles we face and, as a result, to get depressed, frustrated and even angry at times. What’s far more challenging is to look beyond the crosses and burdens we face each day to see the abundance of grace and mercy given to us by our Lord. Unless and until we see that mercy and grace, we’ll struggle with gratitude.
Do we see what God has done for us, how His abundance of mercy is alive in our life? The good news is that, if we can humbly admit that we struggle with gratitude, we’ve taken the first step towards cultivating the deeper gratitude we should have. Gratitude is how we start to see the truth and the joy of the Gospels more clearly. Be open to that truth and God will change your life as He fills you with joy.
A blessed and Happy Thanksgiving and glory to our Heavenly King!
Nov
24
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
At 4PM this Sunday 11/24 the Brick Township Ministerium, comprised of the congregations and religious leaders of many faiths, will come together for our annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at St. Raphael the Archangel Episcopal Church on Rt. 88 in Brick.
Our own Fr. Ed will be sharing the keynote reflection and and offering of food and/or financial support will be taken up to support our area food pantries (including Visitation's own St. Vincent de Paul Conference).
We'd love to see you there!
Directions can be found at https://goo.gl/maps/qrvmGaN6yvHcRpT89
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.
Our FORMED Recommendation for the Week
Video (11 minutes) - For Children: The Miracle at Every Mass
https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/para-ninos-the-miracle-at-every-mass
Although this video is designed to instruct children, it has something for everyone and can be great for the entire family!
Every Sunday, we get to witness a miracle. Sometimes it can be difficult to wrap our minds and hearts around this fact. In this Bonus Episode of Presence: Mystery of the Eucharist, Fr. Riley will give us a special, close-up look at the Eucharistic miracle at every Mass.
Video (11 minutes) - For Children: The Miracle at Every Mass
https://watch.formed.org/presence/season:1/videos/para-ninos-the-miracle-at-every-mass
Although this video is designed to instruct children, it has something for everyone and can be great for the entire family!
Every Sunday, we get to witness a miracle. Sometimes it can be difficult to wrap our minds and hearts around this fact. In this Bonus Episode of Presence: Mystery of the Eucharist, Fr. Riley will give us a special, close-up look at the Eucharistic miracle at every Mass.
If you haven't done so already, go to https://visitationrcchurch.formed.org/, click on the REGISTER NOW button. Enter your e-mail address on the registration screen and you're good to go!
Do you find these weekly eCommunity mailings useful and think that family members or friends could benefit? Invite them either by having them text VisitationBrick to 84576 on their smartphone or by signing up on our parish website at http://visitationrcchurch.org/ - we'd love to have them join us!