Thanksgiving Day Reflection

By: Fr. Fredric B. Abiera, OAR

Last Thanksgiving Day, I remember how I carved, for the first time, a pumpkin and displayed it at the window of St. John’s Rectory in the Bronx with a little candle burning dimly inside it. Last Thanksgiving Day, I remember joining the Parish staff and volunteers serving the Thanksgiving Dinner at St. John’s School for the elderly and for those who were alone during the Holiday Celebration. Last Thanksgiving Day, I remember feasting on those delicious turkey and everything that goes with the abundant and bountiful Thanksgiving dinner. Well, I remember them, not only because they were good memories to reminisce, but also because in my current situation, I cannot help but recall those experiences that will clearly be absent this year. And in a way, going through “memory lane” gives me the chance to re-live those experiences, which trigger my nostalgic longing for something I would not be celebrating this year- something I knew when I accepted my assignment to study here in Rome.

In front of the Vatican, October 2006

Of course, Rome has it’s own beauty to behold and it’s own feasts and festivities to celebrate. Since I arrived here about three months ago or so, I really enjoyed the many feasts (Religious celebrations or otherwise) Rome has, not to mention that we usually do not have classes during those celebrations. I do my best in following the advice: “When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.” However, that does not mean that we completely ignore or forget the other celebrations we hold dear in our hearts, even though they are celebrated thousands of miles away. And for me, that includes the Thanksgiving Day Celebration, which I always enjoyed since I arrived in the US about 11 years ago.

I know that there will be no turkey, no mashed potatoes, no yams, no pumpkin pies on November 23 rd here in Rome. It will just be another regular day, with classes in Latin and Greek, and it would just really be my luck if we would have quizzes that day (we have weekly quizzes both in Latin and Greek). But I know I can still celebrate Thanksgiving Day in my own way. After all, Thanksgiving Day goes beyond the table of plenty. We know that it’s about offering our thanks to God for all the blessings we received and continue to receive from above. And now, please allow me to share with you my reflection about this great celebration- Thanksgiving Day Celebration.

I’m sure that one of the first few phrases and words we learned as children, aside from mommy or daddy, mama or papa, is to say “thank you.” This phrase “thank you” belongs to those words and phrases we consider as expressions of someone having “good manners.” Although different cultures and languages have their own way of saying “thank you,” the meaning has a universality to it, as it expresses the same message: that of appreciation for something given or done for us.

There is no question that all of us are aware of the importance of gratitude towards someone who, in one way or another, has gladden our hearts or made our life much easier because of their generosity and unselfishness, sharing their time and favors. In the same way, we most likely delight in receiving words of thanks or acknowledgment for something we have given or done to others. Although, it should not be the motive or reason to be generous to others, receiving a word of thanks makes the exchange really more pleasant and motivating. It is like hearing the words ‘I’m sorry” after a hurt has been done- indeed, those words can heal the wound. Or it is like hearing the words ‘I love you”- these words can reaffirm the goodness in someone, as well as the affection and tenderness that exist between two persons. In the same way, hearing the words ‘thank you’ reaffirms ones goodness as well as expresses the other person’s appreciation for what has been given or done. Now, recognizing the importance of gratitude toward someone who has given us little things, should we not be more aware of the importance of giving thanks to God who has given us much greater things, and to whom we owe everything that we are, everything that we have, and everything that we will have in the future?

I’m sure that we all know the history of this holiday- how it began with a feast that brought together Pilgrims and Native Americans in the early 1600's to give thanks to God after a good harvest, and how, in 1863, President Lincoln made it a national holiday.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, October 2006

But the idea of giving thanks to God was already recognized long before it ever got into the calendar as Thanksgiving Day, which just shows that the sense of gratefulness is really engraved or rooted in our hearts. The Gospels are full of stories wherein Jesus expresses the value of giving thanks to a generous benefactor, especially to God. Of course, looking around us, we can see the depths of ingratitude to which we can easily succumb. However, there is no doubt that we can also see examples of deepest appreciation and gratitude- examples which we are always invited to follow. As Christians, who believe that everything we have, we owe to God, we have every reason to spend our lifetime thanking God for everything. Even waking up in the morning is more than enough reason for us to offer our thanks to God for giving us a new day to live. Indeed, we give thanks to God for the gift of life. Also, we give thanks to God for the gift of family, the gift of friends, of community, of health, for the gift of faith and love and many, many more.

Moreover, Thanksgiving Day also reminds us never to take anything for granted. Instead, we should continually be grateful for the many things, people and experiences in our lives that make us quite fortunate, which sometimes, we do not appreciate until we do not have them anymore. Taking things for granted expresses a sense of ingratitude toward the things that have been given to us for good use, and which many people in the world would be pleased to have. Yes! Many times in our lives, we fail to recognize the many blessings that are offered to us every day. Sometimes, we complain so much, forgetting that other people would give everything to have what we have or to be where we are. Sometimes, we become so picky or choosy about the food we eat: we want less salt, or too much sugar, or we want fewer calories or carbohydrates, etc.; forgetting that so many people in the world, or even in our neighborhood, would be glad to have a piece of bread to eat. And unfortunately, we may only realize the importance of something after it is gone, when we don’t have it anymore. We may not notice the importance of food and water until we experience hunger, thirst and drought. We may not notice the love we have for someone until that someone is gone. Thanksgiving Day should remind us never to take anything for granted.

Now, as we remember the countless blessings God has given us, both temporal favors and spiritual ones, may our gratitude also bear fruit in loving service to others. Mere words of thanks are not enough to express our thanks to God. Indeed, as we give thanks to God for our freedom, we remember and pray for those who have no freedom. As we give thanks to God for prosperity and plenty, we are never to ignore those in need - the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, and the orphans. As we give thanks to God for our health, we remember and offer our care to those who are sick and near death. As we sit down this Thanksgiving in front of a table full of food and goodies, surrounded by family and friends, let us never forget to offer a prayer for those who have no one to be with during this holiday, and offer our prayers for those who are starving in other parts of the world, or dying because of violence and war. Yes! We have received generous gifts from God. May we share those blessings to others as our sign of gratitude to the One from whom all good things come.

Another thing. This Thanksgiving Day, let us also remember that we do not ONLY give thanks to God during times of prosperity and joy but ALSO during times of trials and sorrows. It may be hard to do so, but it is when it is the hardest, when it would take a lot of courage from us, that Jesus urges us to put ourselves before God in the spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Well, talking about trials in life, big and small, I know that this is something I should remind myself especially these days.

Coming here to Rome has been a big change for me. After three years of Parish ministry at St. John’s Church in the Bronx, I would be lying if I said that I did not get used to it. I loved being in that Parish. However, I can also say that I am very used to change. After all, I have been moving around from place to place since even before reaching my teenage years, learning new dialects and languages, and experiencing new cultures and custom. But, this new experience in Rome, doing my further studies (which I welcomed and accepted freely) seems to me as the most challenging, and many times, frustrating new experience I have ever encountered so far as a religious and as a priest. I expected that, but I guess, I did not expect that much. Rome is great and I am very thankful to my Superiors for giving me this opportunity to be here in order to further grow in knowledge of our faith and history, for the service of the Church and the Order. And most especially, I am thankful to them for the trust they expressed toward me by offering me this opportunity. I am also thankful to my current community here in Rome, all from different countries and cultures, for the spirit of community and brotherhood we all try to live. However, it is also an opportune time to give thanks to God (however difficult) for the not- so- easy situation and difficulties I currently experience as a student here in Rome. I love to study and learn new things and I am open to new horizons. That’s why, I willingly came here to do my further studies. But learning three new languages (Italian, Latin and Greek) at the same time and all taught in a language (Italian) I only learned few months ago and which I only have an elementary knowledge, was really a great challenge for me and continue to be so.

Thanksgiving 2006 might be just another regular day here in Rome – but not for me. It will be a special day - a special day I will celebrate with you from miles away and ocean apart. There will be no turkey, no mashed potatoes, no yams, no pies on the table, no cornucopia display anywhere that day for me. But I have and will always have many blessings to be thankful to God during that day and always. And for me, that is what Thanksgiving Day is about-counting our blessings (including our trials) and be thankful for them. I plan to spend that afternoon (after school) of Thanksgiving Day at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican (which is just besides the school I go to) in order to pray and offer my Thanks to God for my family, relatives, religious community and friends- all of whom give me every reason to have a grateful and thankful heart.

  To All of You:
Have a Wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving Day!

In front of the Colliseum