Today we celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the United States. \u00a0The first Thanksgiving happened almost 400 years ago when the Puritans came to the colonies and arrived in what would become Massachusetts. \u00a0It was very hard for them to find food and basic necessities of life. \u00a0Fortunately, they received help from the Native Americans and planted the first year’s crop. \u00a0When harvest time came, they realized they needed to give thanks, thanks to the natives and to God. \u00a0Ever since then our nation has celebrated Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
We can all face struggles in our lives. \u00a0Our struggles today are different from those of the early pilgrims. \u00a0Sometimes people think if they just believe in Jesus there shouldn’t be any struggle. \u00a0Jesus never says we won’t face struggles. \u00a0In Matthew 11:30, Jesus says, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light<\/em>.” \u00a0He doesn’t say we will have no burden but it is made easier when we realize that Jesus walks with us through our struggles. \u00a0(Remember Jesus knows what it is like to suffer, as He suffered arrest, mockery, beatings, and crucifixion for us.)<\/p>\n Thanksgiving is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving once a year but we are called through faith to be thankful everyday. \u00a0The word “Eucharist” comes from a Greek word that means thanksgiving. \u00a0Listen to the words in the prefaces and the eucharistic prayers used at Mass. \u00a0“Giving thanks<\/i>” is always part of our prayers at Mass.<\/p>\n When we take the time to realize and appreciate what we can be thankful for, it helps us when things aren’t going so well. \u00a0Think of the wars and violence that happen across our world. \u00a0How many come because of people focusing on what they don’t have? \u00a0Sometimes they are lacking real needs like food. \u00a0Sometimes it is greed. \u00a0If we focus on what we do have (cup half full) rather than what we don’t have (cup half empty), we find true joy in Jesus as we know He walks with us in the good day and the bad.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today we celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the United States. \u00a0The first Thanksgiving happened almost 400 years ago when the Puritans came to the colonies and arrived in what would become Massachusetts. \u00a0It was very hard for them to find food and basic necessities of life. \u00a0Fortunately, they received help from the Native …<\/p>\n