Metropolitan Stefan Soroka’s Thanksgiving Message

Thanksgiving is a very special celebration which places great importance on our relationship with God and with our loved ones.  It is an opportunity which naturally invites us to focus on the quality of these relationships.  At the heart of these relationships is our coming to appreciate the giftedness of our journey with God and with our loved ones.  Should we not challenge ourselves to give greater priority to express our heartfelt thanksgiving to God and to loved ones?

How will you and I celebrate this Thanksgiving?  For a start, a visit with Jesus Christ in His holy Church would center the meaning of our life and all its daily activities in the author of all creation.  Choose to gather with your parish family at your parish for the Thanksgiving Divine Liturgy and thank God for the many gifts bestowed upon you, known and unknown to you.  Consider being more generous in sharing your gifts and resources for the benefit of the parish and its programs.

You will gather with family and friends for a Thanksgiving feast.  Is there someone you could personally include in your invitation list, or to accompany you to a family gathering?  Is there someone with whom you could extend the joy of the holiday?  The saintly Mother Teresa of Calcutta often said that we in the western world suffer from much greater poverty than people in the poorest countries – poverty of loneliness.

Challenge yourself to really express gratitude with your loved ones.  Get past your natural inclination to avoid expressing the ‘mushy’ sentiments with those closest to you.  Don’t assume they should or already know of your feelings for them.  A spirit of thanksgiving is not present when it is not expressed.  Celebrate it boldly with your heartfelt ‘I love you’!  Tell your loved ones that they are special to you, and show how they are important to you!  Generously forgive where necessary, and choose to live a grateful and joyful life.

Now that you and I have resolved to go broke with our personalities in celebrating gratitude, know that God loves you and rejoices at your choice to be fully grateful.  GOD BLESS YOU and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November, 2010