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“How can I repay the Lord for all
His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup
of salvation and call on the name of the Lord."

This weekend the thoughts of people around the world turn toward gratefulness, as the nation celebrates Thanksgiving. It is a time for all of us to consider those things for which we are most thankful and to offer to God prayers of gratitude for the many blessings that we have received. It also is a time to consider the great celebration of thanks: the Eucharist.

The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word “eucharistia,” which means “thanksgiving,” and is, by its very nature, a sacrament of gratefulness. In our participation at Mass, we ought to keep this understanding of gratitude and thanks in the forefront of our minds. Like so many things in our world, repetition can lead us to lose focus and forget the importance that something has in our lives. If we are not conscious about staying focused, the prayers of Mass can become a matter of rote repetition instead of heartfelt dialogue. The dialogue of the Mass between the celebrant and the congregation is filled with references to thankfulness. This appreciation is not for God’s sake, but for ours, since our participation in the liturgy is to sanctify us and bring us closer to God. In one of the prefaces for Mass, the priest prays: “Our prayer of thanksgiving adds nothing to your greatness, but makes us grow in your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our prayers help us to grow closer to God by acknowledging the awesome blessings that are continually being poured out upon us.

Our participation at Mass should be, above all else, a celebration of thanksgiving for all that God continues to do for us. The greatest gift that we can receive is the Eucharist itself. By our reception of Communion, we are nourished by our God to remain faithful to our call as Christians and strong in our commitment to live out the Gospel message. So as you take time to count your blessings, remember the source of all blessings and God’s continual faithfulness to His people.

I know for myself, I am continually thankful for the blessings I receive through my ministry at St. Olaf. The outpouring of generosity and dedication from the members of our parish is a wonderful gift to me and to the other members of the staff. As we continue in our work together for the Gospel, please know of my daily prayers for all of you and my gratitude for your kindness to me.

— Fr. Mark Pavlik