Clap Your Hands and Shout for Joy!

One of St. Augustine's pearls of wisdom is the statement that God loves each one of us as if there were just one of us. Think about that for a minute. Everything we see around us, God made it all for our delight. He gave us our five senses so we could enjoy His gifts: the moon and stars that light up the night sky, the birds singing to welcome the morning, the smell of the honeysuckle to sweeten the air, the touch of a baby's silky skin, the taste of your favorite meal. All, everything he made for you, not you plural, but you, the precious one. He loves you and me individually and enough to die for. It's a reality almost too big to grasp. Does it make you dizzy? 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I read this Thanksgiving Prayer this morning at Mass. It was printed in the Magnificat Mass book but comes from a Puritan prayer book called the Valley of Vision. Would that all people of faith remembered to thank God. Today's gospel was the story of the ten lepers healed by Christ. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus while "giving glory to God" in a loud voice. Let us never forget to raise our hearts, hands, and voices in thanksgiving to our Lord and God.

A THANKSGIVING PRAYER

O My God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, for adorning it, for sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;

I bless thee for body thou hast given me, for preserving its strength and vigour, for providing senses to enjoy delights, for the ease and freedom of my limbs, for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;

I bless thee for thy royal bounty providing my daily support, for a full table and overflowing cup, for appetite, taste, sweetness;