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                         Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Forms of Prayer (4)

                                             Prayer of Thanksgiving / Gratitude 

When we were children, our parents often prompted us, “Say thank you” or “Say sorry”. These expressions are more than just good manners—they are acts of charity and gratitude. The Hebrew word for "thanksgiving" is hodayah (הוֹדָיָה), which can also mean "gratitude" or "acknowledgment." In Greek, the word for thanksgiving is eu-charis-tia (εὐχαριστία). At its root is the word charis (χάρις), meaning grace or gift—revealing a profound connection between thanksgiving and God’s grace. The Bible presents thanksgiving as a fundamental element of faith—an expression of gratitude for God's blessings, His providence, and His very nature. It is not merely a feeling, but a conscious act of worship and a way of life rooted in faith and trust in God. The Catechism teaches that to have faith is to live in thanksgiving. If God is truly the One from whom all things come, then everything we are, and possess is from Him (CCC 224). As creatures of God, we are called to bless, praise, and give thanks to Him. In Scripture, thanksgiving is not limited to words—it is also expressed through sacrificial offerings: burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. These various sacrifices symbolized atonement, gratitude, worship, and reconciliation. The Catechism also teaches that the Eucharistic celebration is the "source and summit" of our faith. This sacrament of salvation, accomplished by Christ on the cross, is at the same time a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for the work of creation (CCC 1359). In the Eucharistic sacrifice, the whole of creation, loved by God, is offered to the Father through Christ’s death and Resurrection. Through Him, the Church can offer a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that is good, beautiful, and just in creation and humanity. The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father—a sacred blessing in which the Church gives thanks to God for all His benefits: creation, redemption, and sanctification. In fact, “Eucharist” means, first and foremost, “thanksgiving” (CCC 1360). Thanksgiving is a form of prayer—an expression of our faith. St. Paul exhorts us: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 

(1 Thess 5:16–18). Again, he says: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:4–7). Let us pray for the gift of gratitude. Without this spirit of thankfulness, we cannot truly encounter the goodness, beauty, truth, and holiness that God desires for our lives. — Fr. Jesu.