On Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, we will celebrate the long-established holiday of Thanksgiving Day. We believe it was initially established by the pilgrims in 1621 to celebrate the harvest. It was a feast shared by the English colonists (pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Four hundred years later it is still a time of celebration; and though it is still a great feast, our traditions have changed. We still have that great bird as the center attraction and certain vegetables like corn are still part of the staples of the meal. For many the day will start with the big parade on television as we await the arrival of jolly old St. Nick, then there are the various football games and finally a movie, usually the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
It is a grand day celebrated with family and friends expressing our thanks for the good things that have happened to us this past year.
It seems like the day is full of food, family and fun, and that is great, but what about the reason for this celebration? What does this day really mean, and how can we make this day even better?
THE GREATEST FEAST
The answer is in a celebration we gather for every week, a celebration around the table of the Lord, Eucharistia (Greek) meaning Thanksgiving. A meal we call the Eucharist that gives us the opportunity to come together as family, friends and fellow parishioners to express our gratitude for the gifts God gives us every day.
Just like that meal of Thanksgiving Day we start with a song and procession like that parade, a prayer that calls us together, like us saying grace. We listen to the Word of God, make our petitions like at home when we give thanks around our dinner table, we gather around the table to celebrate the Eucharistic meal of the Body and Blood of Christ, and at home we share that wonderful meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and even a vegetable.
At the end of the Mass, we send everyone forward to share the Eucharistic meal with all the people we meet, and at home we send leftovers of the main course and various desserts to share throughout the weekend. It is so interesting to note how similar these two meals are. Though we celebrate this holiday meal annually, the most important meal of all we can celebrate every single day.
This year let us make our Thanksgiving meal a Eucharistic celebration by attending Mass in the morning and getting home in time to catch St. Nick coming down the lane at the parade.
When we gather around the table to say grace as a family, let us remember not only the gifts we have received, but let us also remember those people who are hurting and those who maybe struggle to have any meal this year.
This Thanksgiving is a great time to begin new traditions with your young family. You can take the whole family to serve at a soup kitchen in the morning or give to a local food pantry or parish Thanksgiving food collection or financially support a worthy cause that will help those in need to have a Thanksgiving celebration.
Thanksgiving is about more than turkey, football and movies. It is about truly giving thanks to God for the gifts we have received and then share those gifts with others. That is a truly Eucharistic meal and the best way to say Happy Thanksgiving!
Father Sansevere is pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington; St. George Parish, Titusville, and St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell.
Faith at Home is a monthly column coordinated by the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. For additional Faith at Home resources, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home.