Thanksgiving Week

11-23-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Abraham Orapankal, Pastor

Dear OLP Family,

We are in the Thanksgiving Week. Is Thanksgiving a religious holiday or a secular celebration? Although the secularism of our present culture may have turned the focus more to indulging in food, fun, games, and family gathering, we must not forget the history and the religious significance of this quintessential American holiday.

Declaring Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a day of thanksgiving, President George Washington clearly used religious terms: “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and single favors of Almighty God.” The absence of religiosity in the way Thanksgiving is celebrated today should not make us forget that it is definitely a religious holiday rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of our country. So we need to pause to thank God. One lively song that has remained in my memory from my missionary seminary life is titled: “Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One.” It has these wonderful and uplifting words in one verse: Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, and you will be singing as the days go by.

Yes, in the midst of the load of cares or crosses we were burdened with last year, we need to take time to be thankful for what we have been blessed with. Consider these:

First, thank God for our parish family: Compared to where we were or how we felt as a parish at Thanksgiving last year, we certainly have plenty to thank God for where we are now and how we feel at this Thanksgiving. Signs of new vitality and spiritual fervor in our OLP parish is a mighty blessing from God and so we humbly bow to God in thanksgiving and joy. Why not plan to begin the Thanksgiving Day by attending our 9 am Mass to thank our loving God who is the source of all blessings…?

Second, thank God for the members of our family: It is wonderful that many families have the tradition of not only saying a Thanksgiving prayer before meals, but also of going around the table and having each person say what they’re thankful for. In my observation, I’ve found that people most often do not mention material things. Instead, they say “family” or “friends.” This is because Thanksgiving teaches us to appreciate the things we can’t buy - persons in our life.

Third, thank God for ourselves! Haven’t you tried to be better person? Haven’t you been a blessing to others in one way or other? God looks at the goodness in you. God looks at the efforts you are making to be good. Yes, St. Paul is right: “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your brother in Christ.