St. John the Baptist of New Brighton

< Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. (Alphonse Kerr)

< A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. (Cicero)

< Let us give thanks for this beautiful day. Let us give thanks for this life. Let us give thanks for the water without which life would not be possible. Let us give thanks for Grandmother Earth who protects and nourishes us.

(Daily Prayer of the Lakota American Indians)

< No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.

(Saint Ambrose)

< Gratitude is the heart's memory. (French Proverb)

In 1975, I turned 30 years old. That means I'm turning 60 in 2005. Sixty... it's just a number like 10, 20, 80, 90. As I reflect on turning 60, I can say that life has always been good. Sometimes better. Life is a gift to be treasured and cared for. Sometimes... life is almost too good to be true! I've been blessed, and as you reflect upon your life, I hope you can see your own life as good, sometimes better! Even if we tried, none of us would have enough time to express our gratitude to God and our ancestors for all that has been given to us.
The quote from Cicero, "A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues," might explain a lot about our modern American culture and its problems. We Americans are so blessed, but how many people do you know that are full of gratitude? We're too busy to be grateful! Our plates are overflowing... too much to do. My parents and grandparents worked very hard, but they found time on Sunday to enjoy family gatherings, time with friends, and the simple pleasures of life. They even found time to go to Church and take the rest of the day off so that they could eat together as a family and visit the extended family. My parents and grandparents had time. With all of our modern technology, shouldn't we have more time? And shouldn't we be living lives of deeper gratitude for all that we have in our lives? Have we forgotten how to give thanks? Life is good, sometimes better. Do the younger people in our families believe that life is good, sometimes better? Do you believe it?
People have always worked hard. Our ancestors came to this country and worked extremely hard. They brought a set of values with them, probably nothing more. They found time to rest in the midst of hard work. They were kinder and gentler people, at least that's how I remember my grandparents. They brought their faith with them and knew the importance of thankfulness. In the Year of the Eucharist (and Eucharist means "giving thanks"), maybe all of us need to re-learn the simple act of giving thanks for life and all of its blessings, because it's good, sometimes better.
"Keep holy the Lord's Day" is the 3^rd Commandment. It teaches that each one of us has a place in this world and what is expected of us.
If we can re-learn the importance of the Sabbath, the Lord's Day, we can re-discover that life is a gift that needs to be treated with care and delight. With care and delight!


	The Lord's Day is a time to give thanks, to be together as family and community, and to be refreshed by food and friendship. One day a week, we need to give special thanks and spend special time together. Is that too much to ask of our generation? What is more important than time together with family and friends? I remember Sundays as a child... all those ancient years ago. First, there was Church and then the best meal of the week. The Sunday dinner was something special... not only food, but laughter and time together. Sunday was really special. What's happened to Sunday in our times? Why have we forgotten the need to rest and relax? Is rest and relaxation a thing of the past? Out dated? Is it a bad thing to stop working to give thanks and to relax with the people we love? Who's wiser, our ancestors or our modern generation? What is life all about? Is it about making more money, having more? Or is life about relationships... with family, friends, the community of believers, and with God? If we don't stop and give thanks, we'll never discover that life is good, sometimes better. If I don't call you and yours to be grateful people, than I'm failing as your priest. The most important duty of a pastor of any denomination is to lead the congregation in giving thanks on the Lord's Day. My Grandpa Murtaugh was a farmer with a wife and seven children to feed and to support. Why would he stop to rest on the Sabbath when there was work to be done? Was he a na�ve Irishman with an old-fashioned religion? Was he being irresponsible because he had a family to support? I think my grandfather's generation knew they weren't in control and that trusting in God was an important part of life. As we journey to God and to eternal life, can we say that we really trust God enough to stop one day a week? It doesn't make sense from an economic viewpoint when there's more money to be made, or just to make enough to get by! Of course, I can be written off as an idealistic and outdated pastor. I'm sure my grandmother worked just as hard on Sunday to prepare those special meals for the family and other relatives who were invited to the farm. So did my own mother as she raised her family. But if we don't stop, give thanks to God, and rest, we are making our selves the center of the universe instead of God? Maybe many of our cultural problems stem from the temptation to make ourselves more important than God and God's creation. On the seventh day, God rested and took delight in all of creation, not just humans. Do we stop and take delight in all of creation? Are you stressed, overworked, feeling crazy, exhausted, out of balance, tired, impatient with those you love; in debt, frantic, unsatisfied with your life? Then stop, rest, and give thanks for your life and all that you do have. Life is good, sometimes better. Reclaim the Lord's Day for your family and for yourself if you want to find that "better" part. All we take with us when we leave this earth is the love we give one another. There's no "U-Haul" on the hearse. And, how much is enough? You and I are not the center of the universe, so get a life... for God's sake!