November 27, 2024

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

When I think of gratitude, the first one I turn to is Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk. He writes and speaks often the message of the importance of gratitude for our spiritual life. Brother David tells us that gratitude is the key to a meaningful life. Brother David goes on to emphasize that happiness does not lead to gratitude; rather, gratitude leads to happiness. Brother David continues, “Gratitude fosters a sense of interconnectedness and a deeper awareness of life’s abundance, encouraging us to live with openness, compassion, and joy.

Each time you and I join to offer Holy Mass, we are at a celebration of gratitude. At Mass, we are uniting ourselves in gratitude with the first apostles at Jesus’ Last Supper. Jesus asks us, “Do this in memory of me.” At each Mass, we remember in prayer and in gratitude all that Jesus did for us. In Holy Communion, we are so thankful that Jesus comes to be with us, to walk with us, to guide us this day. The Lord unites us with each other at this Mass in such a unique way. We must be so grateful that the Lord will be with us on each challenge we will meet on this day. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your Eucharistic presence.

Here I would like to mention to you the importance of making a prayer of gratitude, as preparation for the reception of the sacrament of penance, for confession. We should take the time to remember how great God has been to us, personally. This will help us to realize just who we are. I must recognize that I am a loved person, a blessed person, that God cares about me, that God forgives my sins. So, as I consider my failings and sins; I do so in the presence of this loving, caring God, who loves me so much. I should recognize how much I need to repent; I must make a serious effort for conversion. I can be a better person. God knows me and wants me to become a better person.

Let me finish today with my prayer of gratitude for Thanksgiving Day. I want to again thank God for choosing me to be a priest and giving me all these years for ministry. I thank God for putting me in the right places – I have been blessed with such great assignments. In addition, I thank God for making me a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. I have found happiness as a priest of the North Country.

Let me go on: I am truly thankful for the many people who have been part of my life and have supported me. I thank God for my parents and for my family. They all supported me as I worked through my vocation. I am truly grateful for the many bishops and priests of my diocese who made my life a pathway to peace, hope, happiness. I pray for so many wonderful priests who were my friends and are now with the Lord. I constantly remember how much their support and help has transformed my ministry over the years.

As a priest and pastor, my ministry has been blessed and helped by the many families who became part of my parish life – wonderful families, active families, families that became my family. I continue to be grateful for them all. These families have transformed me; they have filled my life with happiness. For all of them I am truly grateful.

Finally, I remember many individuals who have been part of the parishes and programs that I have been involved in. They have each in their own way brought a unique peace and happiness to all that we accomplished. So, today I thank God for all the many gifts and blessings that have been mine. Lord, watch over all those who have watch over me.