We gather together to ask the Lord’s Blessings

The month of November has two religious celebrations, one found in the New Testament Scriptures, and the other found in our nation’s history. The first, the feastday of the Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple, is celebrated each year on the 21st of November, commemorating that moment when, as a young child, the blessed Theotokos was brought to the temple by her parents, Joachim and Anna.

This was to fulfill a promise they made to God in thanksgiving for her birth. Joachim and Anna were unable to conceive children, yet were both told by angels of God that their prayers were heard, and that they would be soon become parents. When Mary was three years old, she was brought to the temple to be consecrated to God.

Celebrated shortly after this feastday, we come to the American religious holiday of Thanksgiving celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November, this year on the 27th.

Having lost nearly half of their group the first year to the harshness of winter and lack of food, the pilgrims set aside a day of feasting and prayer in thanks to Almighty God the following year for having survived with the help of native American Indians.

November is the Thanksgiving month within the Church and in American society; a wonderful time for us to count our blessings, and to be thankful for all that God has given to us.

What is one very practical and helpful way to thank God for our blessings? To think about sharing with others, to help others with needs greater than our own may not be the first thought that comes to mind, but is a wonderful way to let God know that we are thankful, enough so that we pass that love on to others.

That does require a bit of humility, doesn’t it? In our minds, we know that there are countless number of people – men, women and children – who are in need of basic comforts such as food and shelter. It is something else, though, to act on what we know; to put knowledge and prayer into action. But this is the Christian response to God’s love – passing it along. It’s also such a wonderful way to thank God – to pass it along!

If someone gave you a gift, and you enjoy it so much you just have to share it with someone else, you not only bring happiness to a third person, you honor the friend who gave you the gift in the first place. A very moving example is recorded in the 3rd chapter of the New Testament Book of Acts (Acts 3:1-8) involving the apostles Peter and John:

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”

Give from what you have! Are you thankful to God for his blessings, his great mercy and love? Pass it along; give to others out of love, expecting nothing back. You bring joy to another human being, and you are saying ‘thank you’ to God by extending that love to others.