Linda - October 8, 2023 - Thanksgiving weekend- St. Paul firmly asserts that God wills us to rejoice always and to give thanks in absolutely all circumstances.  This is a simple thing to say but most probably one of the most difficult things to do.  But it is hope - the great virtue of hope - that enables us to obey this command and rejoice as though we have already received whatever we are asking for, because hope is the joyful anticipation of obtaining something good.  Whatever breakthrough we are hoping for and hanging in there for in prayer, we rejoice regardless of our feelings or our circumstances.  Thankfulness is what will eventually bring us into the victory that we long for.  

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That being said, Thanksgiving weekend is a good time to celebrate all that we have already received from the liberal hands of our Father.  We have received so much; eternal salvation, a wonderful identity in Christ, an exciting destiny and mission not to mention daily food, clothing, housing, friends, family, parish, children, vacations, vehicles, the sun and moon, the rain and all the rest of creation.  There is so much to be grateful for.  Indeed, God our Father is a lavish God who always wants to give us more, therefore Thanksgiving is also a very appropriate time to ask and hope for even more because the Law of Increase is written right into creation: "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28). That too is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us because "anyone who has, will be given more". (Matthew 25:18)