Thanksgiving Day offers a fantastic opportunity to stop, reflect and offer gratitude for the blessings God showers upon our lives. While life is filled with a mix of good and bad moments, being thankful offers us a powerful lens to make sense of it all as we keep our focus on Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – Thanksgiving Day
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To my family…all my love on this Thanksgiving Day. This is photo is a personal favorite of mine!
The Lord’s parable of the three servants challenges us all to acknowledge the gifts we have been given AND use them to the best of our ability.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 33rd Week of the Year
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The Psalm Response serves as a wake up call: “Remember the marvels the Lord has done!” Take a moment right now and do a quick inventory of the blessings in your life. Do it…then say a prayer of gratitude!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 32nd Week of the Year
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St. Paul inspires the Romans to use the God-given gifts they have received for one another. What’s your gift? How will you use what the Lord has lavished upon you?
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year
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The Spirit of the Lord – fulfilled by Jesus in Gospel of Luke – empowers us to acknowledge God’s grace in our lives. Like pieces of a magnificent stained glass window, we are called to shine with the unique gifts and blessings the Lord has given us.
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of the Year
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The end of today’s passage from the Gospel of Luke offers a powerful reminder: we are called to live the blessing of our lives to the fullest extent. What’s more, we will be judged, not in comparison to others, but in comparison to the gifts that God has placed within us.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 29th Week of the Year
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Once a year as a nation we pause and give thanks for our blessings. It’s a great idea, and as disciples of Jesus Christ we pause everyday to thank the Lord with a grateful heart. What are you thankful for today? How can you share your blessings and be a light in the world?
Mass Readings – Thanksgiving Day Options
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Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 29th Week of the Year
The Lord exhorts us to be faithful and prudent with the blessings we have received, for “much will be required for the person entrusted with much.”
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Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 23rd Week of the Year (St. John Chrysostom)
Jesus offers a series of blessings and woes, reminding us that when we are united to the Lord we are blessed…and when we drift off on our own we find ourselves in a bad place.
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Study: Have you ever gotten something you wished for? In hindsight, was it what you really wanted or needed?
Pray: What graces or virtues do you need in your life right now? Ask the Lord with boldness and confidence!
Serve: How is the Lord leading you to offer your life today? How can you fulfill God’s command to serve others?
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
Here’s a quick review:
If the Lord would grant you one request, what would you ask for? We can learn a lot about ourselves by what we seek, and sometimes we discover when we get it that it might not have truly been the best thing. Yet, it is the desire in our hearts, however, that tells us if we are on the right track.
Solomon asked to be wise and understanding…a wonderful response!
Jesus uses the parable of the pearl to remind us that there are some things in life so precious that other wishes and requests pale in comparison. With this in mind, here are a couple of thoughts to consider:
God will take the sum of our lives – good and bad – and bless it with grace. As we seek the Lord today, may we bring our hearts and offer ourselves….so that our response will draw us closer to Jesus Christ and one another.
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