Giving Thanks And Healing Are Linked (Bilingual)

(English portion begins at minute 4:12) What a great holiday of friends, family, food, and most especially faith! This holiday was originally started as a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. In his official proclamation, he explained his rationale, “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens…  fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation.” His purpose was twofold (1) Give thanks to God! And (2) to bring healing to the country. Why healing? Remember the United States is in the last years of the Civil War. The country is bitterly divided. Brother killing brother. By the time the war ended in 1865, 864,000 soldiers would be killed, making the Civil War America’s deadliest conflict. Nearly every family lost someone. Healing and giving thanks are linked. The two go together as we see clearly in the Gospel reading.  ¡Qué gran festividad de amigos, familia, comida y, sobre todo, fe! Esta festividad inició originalmente como fiesta nacional en 1863 por el presidente Abraham Lincoln. En su proclamación oficial, explicó su razón: “Acción de gracias y alabanza a nuestro Padre bienaventurado que mora en los Cielos… imploramos fervientemente la interposición de la mano Todopoderosa para sanar las heridas de la nación”.  Su propósito era doble (1) ¡Dar gracias a Dios! Y (2) traer sanación al país. ¿Por qué sanación? Recuerde que Estados Unidos está en los últimos años de la Guerra Civil. El país está amargamente dividido. Hermano matando a hermano. Para cuando la guerra termino en 1865, 864,000 soldados habían muerto, lo que convertiría la Guerra Civil en el conflicto más mortífero de Estados Unidos. Casi todas las familias perdieron a algún ser querido. Sanar y dar gracias están vinculados.  Los dos van juntos como vemos claramente en la lectura del Evangelio.     --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give