As much as people talk about Thanksgiving being a holiday of togetherness and giving back and whatnot, I never more fully believed or felt this until today.
I was at Thanksgiving day Mass this morning because my old church music director asked me especially to cantor for today’s service, and I am very very grateful for her want to include me in the service like she did (especially because I find it so fulfilling to give back to my parish in the form of music as thanks for this beautiful gift God has given me).
Anyway, in the middle of the Mass, the people of the congregation were encouraged to come up to the altar and bring any canned goods or food they had brought to donate for the poor. At first, two people walked up and the one thing I thought was “Oh, no. No one had thought to bring anything and there’s gonna be nothing up here.” And then, in a way that I’ve never felt before, my heart was so deeply moved to see a great portion of the congregation get up and bring forth their food to donate. The altar was soon covered in canned goods and other food. I managed to keep my composure (and, believe me, it was difficult), but never before had I felt so reaffirmed in my faith in people and proud of my parish community. It was quite a spiritually invigorating moment for me.
And, of course, in all ironies, the second song we sang during Communion was called “Surely The Presence Of The Lord Is In This Place”. Never before had these words rung so true to me.
In this season of being together, I leave you with a quote from the third verse of the same song:
“Surely the blessing of the Lord is in my heart.
And it’s here when we’re together or apart,
Now I feel the rush of angel’s wings and I know how great Thou art.
Surely the blessing of the Lord is in my heart.”
A blessed and happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your families.
Warmest regards,
Martin