23 Nov Life-saving Thanksgiving! (Lk 17:19) by Pat Castle
…realizing he had been healed, [he] returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” ~ Lk 17:15-16, 19
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Reflection: Happy Thanksgiving! The Samaritan’s faith led him to go out of his way to thank our Lord… and Jesus gave him eternal life. Gratitude saves lives. Looking someone in the eye and saying thank you brings them dignity to realize their eternal worth, preventing darkness like suicide and abortion. When daughter Paige was 8 yrs old, her teacher asked what she was most thankful for. Paige said, “Jesus.” That is the most important lesson to teach our children because this brings them eternal life. At Mass after the bells rang signifying the consecration of the bread to body (Eucharist), I heard a pre-school girl say, “what happened?” Jesus happened! Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving”, and the Eucharist brings us eternal life (John 6:51-69). Before the big meal today, let’s first gather together to thank Jesus for the moment He healed us and gave us eternal life. Then, look your loved ones in the eye and say thank you!
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Challenge: When we “say grace” before the big meal today, let’s fill it with gratitude and humility, so God can fill us with grace. Use that grace to go out of your way to give thanks, saving your life and others. .
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Pray LIFE Runners Creed to end abortion. Add to Prayer Wall.
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Inspiration: “To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come. It has seemed to me fit and proper that the gracious gifts of the Most High God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens… to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” ~ President Abraham Lincoln (1863)
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All In Christ for Pro-Life!,
Pat
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* Pat Castle is the coach and founder of the National LIFE Runners Team (intro). Pat and Angi have two high school daughters and live in Papillion, NE.