Thanksgiving message from Bishop Wester
As we gather this year around our Thanksgiving tables, our nation will give thanks for all the blessings we enjoy in our country. This act of thanksgiving implies a two way street: a gift received and thanks given. Thus, our attention is focused on the "who" and the "what": the giver and the gift. To give thanks, then, implies a relationship. And since God is the giver of every good gift, our gratitude is ultimately directed to Christ, through whom and in whom and for whom all things exist and all gifts are given. In this context, there are innumerable gifts for which we thank God this year. But of all of them, I thank God most for the gift of time. I have heard it said that time is the only gift that is uniquely and truly ours. Everything else that we "own" is really only lent to us for a while. One day, our possessions, our money, our talents and abilities will either cease to exist or go to someone else. But our time – that is truly ours and truly who we are. As a matter of fact, we can substitute the word "life" for the word "time" and grasp the mystery of this reality. I’m just killing "life"; I’m wasting "life"; I don’t have "life" for you: these are only some examples of the link between time and life. God has given each of us just enough time: not too much and not too little. What we do with our time, our life, becomes the lived expression of our gratitude to God who is the Lord of the living. Thanksgiving is a moment in time when we pause to give special thanks for this holy, unique and unrepeatable precious gift. This year, I give thanks in a special way for my time, my life, with all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am having the time of my life here in Utah! Our local Church is alive, vibrant and enthusiastic. It is a great gift to be called by Christ to be your shepherd and I thank God for you always. I also thank you all for the gift of your time, your life, which you give so freely to build up and sustain our Eucharistic communion. As I travel throughout the diocese, I never cease to be amazed at your generosity and selflessness. Again and again, I see you spending time, life, assisting at liturgy, directing parish activities, visiting the sick, teaching catechism, welcoming the stranger, nurturing your families and sharing your resources within the diocese and beyond. I am truly fortunate to have been called to this marvelous diocese and I am deeply grateful for this time in my life. As we get ready to gather around the "festive board" this Thanksgiving, I pray that you will have an opportunity to express your thanks for all those who share their time, their lives, with you. For family and friends, acquaintances and bosom buddies, this is the time to thank all those you love and with whom you share life. In that spirit, I wish to thank our priests during this year dedicated to these men who have left everything to follow Christ. Please take a moment to tell them how grateful you are to them for their commitment to you, their brothers and sisters. Let them know that you appreciate the countless ways that they are there for you, sharing your joys and your sorrows, your good times and your bad times. They are truly living reminders of Christ, the great high priest, who gave us his life, his time, that we may have life eternal. Now that is something for which to be grateful: eternal time, eternal life! Every time we gather around the table of the Lord at Eucharist, we are partaking of his body and blood and receiving the first installments of time eternal. No wonder we call the Sacred Liturgy the Eucharist: The word means thanksgiving and when you think of it, that is the only response we can make to the one who have given us everything, including eternal life. May God bless you during the upcoming holiday. Have a good "time" this Thanksgiving!
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