THANKSGIVING
EVEN AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Although
it has little to do with our liturgy, the American tradition of
Thanksgiving Day (every fourth Thursday of November) has slowly made inroads into other countries like the Philippines (at least in some affluent, Western-culture homes). In any case, thanksgiving or gratitude has a universal and valid value, definitely worth recognizing and celebrating through
ritual and tradition. But on the basis of our Gospel reading today,
there is hardly anything to be thankful for! All we have are ill-omened
signs and events, such as the
destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world itself.
But on second thought — thanks to a deeper look at the reading —we
realize that it isn’t all gloom and doom after all. In fact, although
there is an interesting mixture of fear and anxiety, there is also
consolation and assurance. We can have recourse to our First Reading:
it’s about the deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den. And
particularly telling is also the last verse of the Gospel: “When these
things begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your
redemption is at hand.”
With this, our work is already cut out for us. As Christians, we don’t
need at all to be predictors of a future of destruction and damage. Why
should we still add to the mess already taking place in our midst, with
nature going haywire with calamities and environmental degradation? Let
us rather be a people of hopefulness and vigilance, master crafters of
God’s Kingdom in the here and now. Thus, we will always have reason to
thank God — always and every day, not just on Thanksgiving Day. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: What are you thankful for today?
Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your consolation and assurance, especially during our times of despair.
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