November 25
Thanksgiving Day
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
9:00 AM – In Thanksgiving for the former priests of Holy Cross Church both living & deceased
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Sirach 50:22-24
And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
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.
Gospel Acclamation
1 Thessalonians 5:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 17:11-19
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
“I will praise your name for ever, Lord”
Reflection
As we take the time today to think about the things that we have been blessed with in our lives, we can consider the role that God plays in those blessings. We see in our readings today the echo of our thanksgiving sentiments. Sirach tells us about how we are born into the goodness of God, and continue to be blessed as we grow into joyful and peaceful adults. The Psalm states unequivocally that we will praise the name of the Lord for the good things he has given us. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is steeped in thankfulness for the grace-filled life he has experienced. In the Gospel from Luke, ten lepers are cleansed and, on their way to the priest to show their ability to return to society, one of them comes back to give thanks to Jesus for his deliverance. Jesus remarks about the faith that brought this man back to him.
We are fully aware that our lives are not perfect. The pandemic still has the ability to take its toll on our friends, neighbors and loved ones. Many societal problems still exist in our country and in our world. But today, we are able to take some time with our family and sit together for the purpose of simply basking in each other’s love and friendship. This is something worth being thankful for.
We are thankful for our faith as well. Our God has blessed us with an abundance of good things. As the family that is Holy Cross church comes together to worship on this day and on every other day, let us recognize the good that lives in one another. Let us be thankful for the light of Christ in our hearts and minds.
God’s blessings on you and your family,
Deacon Dare
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