Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, November 23, 2025
I am amazed when I encounter someone who seems to have every reason to complain and yet they don't. I have met people with severe injuries, terminal illness, hard luck of every kind, who remain positive, hopeful and concerned about others. And I have known people who complain despite what seems to be plenty of good fortune. I have to be careful not to judge because I don't really know what goes on inside anyone's inner life.
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, a day set aside for gratitude. Gratitude is not blind optimism, nor is it a refusal to acknowledge the real burdens we carry. Life can be difficult; the crosses we bear are sometimes heavy. But faith teaches us that even in hardship, God is near. When we choose to see our lives through the lens of gratitude, we see that blessings are not rare interruptions in life—they are woven throughout it. The warmth of a family gathering, the gift of friendship, the quiet presence of God in prayer, the meal on our table—these are signs of His love sustaining us each day.
Self-pity, on the other hand, is a subtle spiritual trap. It convinces us that we are alone, that our struggles are uniquely unfair, that life has somehow cheated us. But self-pity shrinks the soul. It narrows our vision until we can no longer see the good that surrounds us. It closes our hearts to others and even to God. Gratitude does the opposite: it expands the soul, strengthens our relationships, and draws us into a deeper awareness of God's providence.
This Thanksgiving, pause and reflect not only on what we wish were different, but on what is already good, already beautiful, already grace. Thank God for the people who love you. Thank Him for the challenges that have made you stronger. Thank Him for the ordinary blessings that fill each day—so ordinary that we sometimes forget to notice them. To live with gratitude is not to ignore suffering; it is to refuse to let suffering be the whole story. It is to remember that every breath is a gift, that God walks with us, and that hope is never out of reach.
I am grateful to be pastor of Saint John Church, to be a Capuchin friar. I am grateful for my family and friends, for my health and education. I have a lot to be grateful for and I hate it when I find myself starting to wallow in self pity. Thanksgiving reminds us that grateful people are happy people.
Happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you and your loved ones abundantly.
