Giving Thanks to God
Thanksgiving Day
Sirach 50:22-24
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Luke 17:11-19
November 27, 2025
On our liturgical calendar today is the Thursday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time.
In our United States of America, it is Thanksgiving Day. It is a secular holiday that is based on a theme that is biblical. In fact, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in Massachusetts to give thanks to God.
Since giving thanks is biblical, our church gives us the option of using special readings and prayers today for our national holiday.
The gospel is an obvious one, Jesus heals ten lepers but only one gives thanks. Are we like the one who “returned to give thanks to God” or we like the nine who did not return to give thanks?
When all ten lepers heard that Jesus was near, they all cried out to him for help. When we are in trouble, it is easy for us to remember to ask God for help. It is pleasing to God that we ask for his help. He doesn’t expect us to do everything ourselves. God wants to help us.
Do you let God help you?
When God helps you, do you remember to give thanks?
Why not?
Sometimes this is simply poor discipleship. Sometimes it is us failing to give credit to God for his help as well as failing to give credit to other people who help us.
When a person receives a diagnosis of a serious illness or the loss of a job, we ask God for help. We turn to God for hope.
When one is cured or when one gets a new job, does one remember to give thanks to God?
Let’s think about other things that we might be thankful for.
For instance, when we realize we have committed sin, we can be thankful “that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We give thanks that God has pointed our sins out to us and that He is eager to forgive us.
We can give thanks for God’s inspiration in the work we do. For instance, when I am writing a homily, a blog article, or working on a presentation, I give thanks for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the words I write.
Sometimes I wonder if anyone pays any attention to what I say or write. I am thankful when people act in a way that shows they were listening to what I wrote or said. For instance, I am thankful when people tell me they contacted our governor’s office to ask her to veto the bill legalize assisted suicide.
I also am thankful for the times when I want to cry as I say the Eucharistic Prayer. I want to cry because I realize that I too am sinner and on my own I can do little but in the moment of the Eucharistic Prayer, I sense God is with us, doing something amazing as the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Jesus. I am thankful that God works through me to do.
What about the bad moments? Is there something to be thankful for? Some days might seem terrible. We might think we have nothing to be thankful for.
On those days, we can be thankful to God that He got us through the day.
When we receive diagnosis of a terrible illness or the loss of a job, we can be anticipatory in our thanks because we can be assured that God will walk with us on every step of what lies ahead of us.
How about other people? Did you give thanks to other people who help you? Pope Leo XIV has invited us this Thanksgiving to thank another person for their help/presence in our lives.
What about when God gives grace to others? Paul writes to the Corinthians of how he gives thanks to God for the grace He bestows on them.
Sirach speaks of blessing God, giving him thanks and praise, for his help. Sirach speaks of the “joy of heart” and “peace” that God gives us.
Giving thanks is a Christian act.
Being thankful changes our lives. It changes the way we look at things. Have you ever known a grateful person who was unhappy or an ungrateful person who was happy.
When we are grateful, we are aware of God’s presence and aid.
When we are grateful for the blessings God has given us in the past, we have hope for the future.