Deacon Pashley gave a fantastic homily on Thanksgiving Day at Mass and he made a marvelous connection between gratitude and the Mass. I think it fits right in with our Advent Eucharist Revival! So, his homily is reproduced here for your edification. We are thankful to Deacon Pashley for his witness to the love of God shown to us daily in the Holy Eucharist with his carefully thought out and prayed-out homely!
It's All Souls. It's November. It's the Month of the Faithful Departed. And it is natural that our memory goes today in particular to our deceased loved ones, whom we have entrusted to the love and eternity of the Lord. From our family members who are now gone – our parents and grandparents, from our siblings, from our uncles and aunts – we learn about the eternal love of God, which and which alone keeps alive those whom He loves, after having welcomed them with His forgiveness.
Saint Paul says that “all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). As things happened throughout history, the events of a nation, even disastrous ones, have always been and will continue to be steered by God for the accomplishment of His saving plan – for that nation, people, country, and ultimately, for the entire human race.