Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

A young man writes shortly before his wedding: “It's so wonderful being loved by Kate. How could I ever deserve this? Why me? I'm so grateful.” Much more readily we ask, “Why me?” when disaster or tragedy hits; we even feel at times as if God is singling us out for hard treatment.

The diverse responses suggest yet another way of dividing human beings: 1) those who look at everything as a gift, with gratitude and appreciation; 2) and those who see the universe and God as owing them all they have and a lot more. The different attitudes are largely the result of a decision, unconscious or otherwise, on our part. At least, there seems to be room here for us to exercise such a choice.

The atmosphere of the Mass or Lord's Supper is one of thanksgiving; that's why traditionally it is called eucharist after the Greek for thanksgiving. In the texts of the Mass we hear and breathe this expansive spirit. “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise. Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Henri Nouwen says that because gratitude is not always such an obvious attitude toward life, Jesus gave us the Eucharist “to enable us to choose gratitude and to teach it.” One way of living through difficult days and months is to recall all the reasons we have for gratitude.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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