Thanksgiving

By now, some of us  have a  genuine Rockwell holiday planned while others only dream of such a perfect picture.  Most of us look forward to this time of year but we also know that every family has its tensions. We are human and with that blessing comes drama. Unfortunately, it is during the time we wish for peace the most that we often experience high drama.  Take heart, even meals with God have been less than harmonious - downright sad in fact.  Near the end of Christ's life, he planned a Passover feast - a Last Supper - with his disciples in an upper room located in the heart of the city. As God made plans to fellowship with his friends, one of those men was busy selling him out for 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests.  As Jesus Christ prepared a table before them, one was plotting Christ's death - and Christ knew it. "When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:14-19)...

Knowing the hour of his death was upon him, he tenderly broke the bread and passed the cup of wine that represented his body and blood revealing the eternal truths of the Way.  God made it known to tis dinner companions that he was aware of the betrayal yet without exposing the culprit, "But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table."  Instead of compassion and empathy or even outrage, the disciples grow concerned more with themselves than Christ.  They argued over who would be greatest in the kingdom to come.  Imagine yourself at a fine dinner with your loved ones explaining that one of them would shortly be instrumental in your death and your family begins to compete with each other over who is the greatest!  Imagine the heaviness in your soul that not one person cared to extend themselves to you during such a time of great sadness. How does this scenario compare to what you may be dreading at your family gathering?  Nothing could be worse yet, no one's burden is any less nor do those burdens go unnoticed by the One who can sympathize with our heartache.

Remember the words of our God who in the midst of his own agony says to us, "For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  Let us rejoice in knowing that come what may, as we sit side-by-side with our loved ones, we indeed are eating and drinking at God's table!  We are citizens of heaven now, therefore let us be witnesses to those who grind our nerves the most. Let us share kind words and not criticisms. Let us, as Christ, be a Balm of Gilead to those who are grumpy or hard to love.  And likewise, may our loved ones do the same if in fact, that one who is hard-to-love happens to be us.

- S.N. Belmonte 2009