Thanksgiving Day

Today's Mass Readings

Specific readings used at Conception Abbey on this day.

Preface: Throughout this coming week, we will ponder the daily Mass readings from the perspective of the liturgical texts given to us in the Roman Missal and the Lectionary—the entrance and communion antiphons, the responsorial refrains, and the gospel acclamations. These texts provide a unique perspective on the scripture passages of each day and often provide a key for understanding the profound spiritual interconnections between these liturgical readings.

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); 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (944-1); Luke 10:17-24 (947-5)

The text of the entrance antiphon sets the tone for this special day when our country gives thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed upon our nation: “Sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts, always thanking God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:19-20). 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 responsorial refrain from Psalm 145 further extols the Lord’s merciful love: I will praise your name for ever, Lord…The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. The second reading from 1 Corinthians 1 illustrates the way in which God has blessed us through Christ Jesus: you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge,…not lacking in any spiritual gift. And the greatest gift of all is that we were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:9). The gospel from St. Luke further elaborates on this gift of knowledge: “although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike” (Lk 10:21). And what is this knowledge revealed to the childlike? To know the Father, revealed through his Son, Jesus (Lk 10:22).

One of the choices of communion antiphons given in the Roman Missal is: “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? The chalice of salvation I will raise, and I will call on the name of the Lord” (Ps 116:12-13). At Conception Abbey, we use a slight variation of that refrain which includes verse 18a: “My vows to the Lord I will fulfill: I will raise the cup of salvation!”

Thanksgiving is the day on which our monastic community celebrates the anniversaries of religious profession and ordination. The opening phrase “My vows to the Lord I will fulfill” 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. We give thanks this day for the 490 years of faithful service given by eight monks of Conception Abbey!

Thought for today: What is the most significant blessing I have received in the midst of the past eight months since the beginning of the pandemic?

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB