Reflections on Thanksgiving: Embracing Gratitude and Heritage

by Fr. John Granato  |  11/24/2024  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

This Thursday is Thanksgiving. We remember, as we do every year, that thanksgiving in Greek is the word eucharistia. From this word comes our word, Eucharist. We celebrate, as Catholics, thanksgiving every day of the year, not just the fourth Thursday of November. We are grateful to our Father who sent his Son into the world, taking on human flesh without losing his divinity, in order to free us from sin and open the gates of heaven, reconciling us with the Father, which was destroyed through the sin of Adam.

Thanksgiving is an American holiday as well, which commemorates the pilgrims and Native Americans coming together in a spirit of friendship. This friendship between the pilgrims and other Europeans with the Native Americans has not always been a source of pride. We are too familiar with our history on how the Native Americans were treated by the Europeans entering into the New World, but we also need to be cognizant of how the Native Americans also treated one another with untold wars between the tribes. As in all of history, though, the victors write history, and throughout history there have been many conquests of one group or tribe or country over another.

We as Americans need to acknowledge that without prejudice and accept that even though our country was founded on conquest, we have been a light to the nations of the world, especially since the Revolutionary War. And even though it might be controversial, we also must be cognizant that certain sports teams and cities and towns and rivers have a Native American association, not as means to perpetuate racism, but as a means to honor the Native Americans. When we change the names of cities, towns, sports teams, etc., we are guilty of erasing the heritage of Native Americans. When we fight to change teachings of the Catholic Church (or Christian Church for those who aren’t Catholic but hold to Natural Law) we are in danger of erasing our Christian heritage.

I am thankful that I live in a country founded by men who held to Natural Law and Nature’s God and set up a constitutional Republic so that we the people can elect officials not by majority rule which turns into tyranny and mob rule but by a republic whereby the states have an equal voice in our system of government. Every two to four years we have a voice in coming together to elect men and women who we feel will be best for our country. There are people who will disagree with the choices made through the electoral process, but in our common humanity and in our common citizenship, we come together in peace and respect to work for the common good. We need to hold all politicians, of any political party of which they associate, to hear the voices of all the people and to govern accordingly.

May God have mercy on our country and may our politicians be open to the voice of God in how they govern.

Happy Thanksgiving.