Giving thanks and giving back

Thanksgiving is a wonderfully unique celebration that we share as Americans, no matter our national origins, our religion or creed.

It is most fitting that in a country and place full of opportunity, such as the United States, we stop and acknowledge the need to give thanks. But what “thanks” are we celebrating?

The “thanks” we give is not for our own hard work and efforts. It is not a pat on the back or an opportunity to thank ourselves for all we have done for ourselves.

The “thanks” which we give is for all that has made our success possible. It is the “thanks” that we give for what has been provided to us, and has made our own efforts fruitful.

The tradition of the first American Thanksgiving tells us that the settlers gave thanks to God for providing the land and crops during their first harvest. The story also teaches us that the Pilgrims not only gave thanks, but reacted to it by inviting people who were different than themselves to share in what had been harvested.

St. Francis of Assisi wrote “it is only in giving that we receive.” This Thanksgiving, we should all be mindful to give thanks for all those gifts we have been given and then we should react to these gifts by sharing them with others.

Let us all continue to give of ourselves and be thankful for what we receive in this land we call home.

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello is Vicar for Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and the administrator of St. Bernard Parish.