As Thanksgiving nears and Advent is just around the corner, I am filled with so much anticipation and joy. The words that keep running through my mind and heart right now are from the prayer of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego which they sang after being thrown into the white-hot furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar because they would not worship the King’s idols (Book of Daniel, Chapter 3).
Beginning in verse 52, the three Jewish men bless and glorify God for having saved them from death. What a sight it must have been to see these three walking around a burning, flaming furnace singing and praising the Lord! Their song of praise begins:
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
They continue, calling on every bit of creation to “bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever”. This is one of my most favorite expressions of thanksgiving!
What are you thankful for in this wonderful season of Thanksgiving and anticipation of Advent?
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What am I not?!
Okay, I’ll make a top 5 list. Organized thoughts may keep me from going on a prayer rant.
1. My Confirmation last February which brought about my “conversion.”
2. My calling to the Dominican way of life. Thanks be to God!!
3. For all His Saints.
4. For my sisters and parents.
5. For hope.
Emotions might lead me to different answers on different days — but the Mass… ahh the Mass! The joy in the life of St. Pio… the joy of countless priests who weep at the Consecration… the feeling that I should never (NEVER) leave the pew or step forward if serving as a deacon and receive Christ — but He calls me… and again He weeps at my return. Next might be His Mercy… so many gifts — Blessings. deacon tom.
happy thanksgiving ! God bless you!
there are so many blessings that i would like to thank God for….. recently, He took care of my father as he went a heart bypass operation. i pray for his continuous recovery as well as for his spiritual and emotional healing. this year God has also granted me blessings by giving me good and wise people whom i can run to for advice and who always brought me closer to Him. God has also granted me spiritual strength and wisdom during the times when i needed His help the most.
Oh, man, that’s my favorite prayer in scripture. The cadence lulls me when nothing else can, plus the reminders in the actual words assure me of what i most often forget: that God is worthy of praise.
Recent events, both public and personal, have me counting my blessings more often and with greater awareness lately. I’m grateful that my list of blessings is as long as it is. And of course there are all God’s surprises, great & small.
I’m very thankful for my mother in law, who has taken the time to explain the Catholic faith to me (I will be converting next year!) and encourages me each and every day to stay strong in my new found faith. It’s because of her, that our family has a stronger bond with faith and I am so grateful!
And of course, I’m thankful I’ve found your website. I’ve devoured it each day and I walk away feeling refreshed! You’re doing a great job!
I am thankful for so much. Over the last few months, I have had the chance to meet sisters and explore different ways to be a sister. I really enjoyed mass at the Motherhouse Thanksgiving morning, followed by taking Sister Mary to lunch and out for a walk. It was such a pleasant, peaceful morning.
I love the readings for the coming Sunday about “the voice crying in wilderness”. I think we are all called to be that voice some times to get someone’s attention about what needs to be different or better in the world.