Thursday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time – Thanksgiving
In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah enumerates the glorious acts of the Lord, the many blessings bestowed upon a people he calls his own: “The loving deeds of the Lord I will recall: …He became their savior in every affliction,” his love and pity redeemed them, he lifted them up and carried them “all the days of old” (Is 63:7-9). The theme of gratitude for God’s blessings continues in the second reading from Colossians 3:12-17: “be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, … singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Thanksgiving is the day on which our monastic community celebrates the anniversaries of religious profession and ordination. At Conception Abbey, we use a special communion refrain from Psalm 116:14,13: “My vows to the Lord I will fulfill: I will raise the cup of salvation.” The first half of the verse takes on special significance for those celebrating jubilees of religious profession and “I will raise the cup of salvation” for those commemorating anniversaries of ordination. The gospel from St. John is a reminder that the call to monastic life or to priestly service is a gift from God and that we must “remain in his love” for fruitfulness in our vocations. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” (15:17). We give thanks this day for the 145 years of faithful service given by three monks of Conception Abbey!
Thought for today: What is the most significant blessing I have received in the midst of the past year?
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Below are the readings the monks will be reading at Mass today.
The readings from Thanksgiving Day may be taken from any of those given in the Lectionary at numbers 934-947 (For Giving Thanks to God). Abbot Benedict has chosen the following for our service today:
Isaiah 63:7-9 [943-3] https://dev-usccb-readings.pantheonsite.io/bible/isaiah/63
Colossians 3:12-17 [944-3] https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091015.cfm
John 15:9-17 [947-7] https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051424.cfm
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