Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope
(Wisdom
6:1-11; Luke 17:11-19)
Today’s
gospel is traditionally read on Thanksgiving Day. The reason is obvious; it is
about giving thanks. Jesus has healed
ten lepers, and one -- only one and he, a Samaritan -- returns to thank
him. Jesus extols him not only for
giving thanks but also for doing so when his benefactor was of a different
faith tradition. Something similar is
happening in America today.
The desire
to give thanks is found throughout the world.
People everywhere have an almost innate need to thank others, if not
God, for their welfare. For this reason,
Mexicans in border towns like to join family and friends on the American side
for Thanksgiving dinner. When doing so,
they may take time to not only say grace before the meal but also spend time in
common prayer afterwards. Standing in a
circle, each person will name aloud the benefits he or she has received with
God’s help.
The Thanksgiving
Day Mass also attracts a fair number of people.
Instinctively we know that the Eucharist is the best way to give thanks. Latinos again excel here. They seem more likely than European-American
counterparts to participate in the Thanksgiving Mass. They believe that it actualizes Jesus’ death
so that they might participate in it and have eternal life. For this opportunity as well they want to thank him.
