Sunday Homily, November 18, 2012, 33rd & Last Ordinary Time B
Readings: – from Thanksgiving Day
Sirach 50, 22-24, May he grant you joy of heart.
Psalm 113, Blessed be the Name of the Lord forever.
1 Corinthians 1, 3-9, You were enriched in every way.
Luke 17, 11-19, Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks?
Thanksgiving History: Everyone knows about the first Thanksgiving in 1602 with the Pilgrims and the Indians eating together, the Mayflower, and Plymouth Rock. Here are 5 facts that people do not hear about usually.
1. When did Thanksgiving begin? Our ancestors have celebrated end of harvest feasts of gratitude for centuries. Lincoln first focused on a national feast; FDR established the national holiday in 1941.
2. The pilgrims did not know they were pilgrims. They called themselves saints, and non-saints were called strangers. The word pilgrim came along in the 18 hundreds, 2 centuries later. They were not even Puritans, but separatists. They split off from the Church of England, old Henry VIII's church, and the Puritans did not split off.
3. The Separatists did not come to establish religious freedom. They came for religious freedom for their religion and only their religion. Like the Catholic Church, the Separatists demanded everyone belong to their program. Failure to conform could result in execution, ala inquisition.
4. The Mayflower returned to England, was torn apart, and its beams were used to build a barn in Buckinghamshire (just north of London & east of Oxford).
5. How did the Indians & Separatists communicate? The Indians were Algonquians & one of them, Squanto had actually lived in Briton some years. He returned to his tribe and taught his friend Samoset English. It was Samoset who communicated with the Separatists, & the Indians taught them to raise corn, to fish, and to hunt. In the first winter half of the 100 Separatists died before the Indians taught them how to survive.
Thanksgiving
It is Thanksgiving this week, Folks, my favorite feast and holiday. I would like to talk about our blessings.
It was over a year ago when Chris Dembney walked in here one Sunday and told me about a bike ride he had done for 7 days across Iowa, 500 miles. He says, “Stack, you would love this trip.”
I remember telling him, “Chris, you are crazy. Why would I want to ride 500 miles across Iowa?” Guess what I did this past July.
Blessing #1 for me: my health.
Not only have I been able to ride 500 miles and am ready to sign up for this July. But I have been able to return to back packing in the mountains. In 2009 in Matterhorn Canyon, Yosemite, I knew I could never hike again in the mountains with my old, factory issue hips. 2010, January & February, I got the new hips and that August I was back packing in CO with the usual degenerate group. I still am amazed.
Blessing #2: our community
You people are a Work of Art. Here is what I see and how you are a blessing.
The generosity. This little community just this year has contributed $25,000 to help numerous nonprofits and numerous individuals in financial straits. This very weekend your generosity is helping in NYC and NJ through Professor Jim Mahar and Bona Responds. $2000 of your aid was given directly to them last Sunday. What a blessing.
The warmth. I do not know how many times someone or a couple has come to me after visiting here. They always mention the warmth and the hospitality. What a blessing.
Your child friendly warmth. Do you realize these kids are growing up in a sacred environment without fear? What a privilege to watch and help them grow. Thanks to you parents & grandparents who share your kids with us. What a blessing.
Blessing #3: Rosemary’s recuperation.
January 6 it was when she crashed her Christmas bike and busted her elbow so badly. The past few weeks she has been riding the same bike around White Rock Lake. The physical recuperation is remarkable enough. The spiritual and psychological recuperation has been even more marvelous.
What are 2 or 3 of your biggest blessings this year?