Redeeming The Time

A homily during the celebration of the Eucharist, a word which means "Thanksgiving," on American Thanksgiving. What am I thankful for? Among many verses of Scripture, this one is apropos: "A man shall draw near, and the heart is deep" (Psalm 63:6). Our heart was made by God to be deep enough to contain Him. The temporal time we spend on earth fills this heart, as there are good times and bad times, but always with God. This I am thankful for. On this day we are celebrating St. John Chrysostom, who famously, as he was dying, said "Glory to God for all things." I, in a poor way, unlike him, am thankful for all these things. Two of them are described in the reading appointed for him, from John, about the Shepherd. One part says that his sheep go in and out, and find pasture. This is the total freedom of being in God. We do not have this freedom yet, but we are attaining it. As we attain it, we are shepherds, no matter if we are priests, or bishops, or lay people, because our Lord is a Shepherd, and we are becomi