The States was founded by insisting on our rights “to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Subsequent history as enumerated further rights — the right to bear arms, the right to free speech. While insisting on rights might be proper in the political realm, it doesn’t work so well in the spiritual. For example, spiritually you shouldn’t speak of a “right to life.” (The US bishops are more accurate when the speak of the need to “respect life.”) We don’t have a right to life. It is pure gift. We have life not because we deserve it but because God chooses to give it. In fact, all the things that matter in life are gifts. That we could put two feet on the floor this morning, that we could breathe clean air, that we could enjoy that cup of coffee — all gifts. Thanksgiving is the proper response to life. There are three implications from this: first, we must treasure these gifts and treat them with respect. You wouldn’t ball up your Aunt Bertha’s gift of a sweater and throw it in the corner. You’d show your appreciation by folding it carefully. Similarly, since God has gifted us with this beautiful creation we must show our gratitude by tending it gently. Second, since it is all gift we must grasp it lightly. We should not imagine that this is “mine” and cling to it to the exclusion of all others — not me but we is the gratitude word. Which leads to the third implication — as we have received, so we should give. As we have been blessed so we should bless others. The amazing thing, in the providence of God, the more we give, the more we have. Reason for thanksgiving there!
