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In the heart of Haughville on the corner of North Holmes Avenue & West St. Clair Street on the near westside of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 901 North Holmes Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46222 US - Letter from Ed Johnson
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Letter from Ed Johnson |
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Dear Parish Family,
My family as usual celebrated Thanksgiving at the home of my sister Jean and her husband Dave, who hosted all my brothers and sisters, our spouses, children, and grandchildren in their home. Their house is not large, but they were able to seat all of us at table in their heated garage. There is always plenty of time to visit with each other and enjoy the children. Of course, the big focus of our gathering is the sumptuous Thanksgiving Dinner.
According to our usual family ritual, when it is time for the dinner to begin, we all gather at table. Before we are allowed to eat, we must first take time to share warm and grateful memories and sometimes funny stories about Mom and Dad, my sister Kathy who died three years ago, and other relatives who have passed on. Perhaps we also welcome a niece’s new boyfriend who has joined us, learn about the athletic prowess of a nephew or the new job of a cousin, or hear announcements of a wedding engagement or the expected birth of a new baby. Then, after a scripture reading or brief reflection, we pray together in thanksgiving to God for the gifts of our parents and each other, asking His special care on those who have been ill or in special need, and for his continued blessing on our family, our faith community, our nation, and our world. Finally, when the children – and a few adults – cannot wait any longer, a parade of platters is brought forth, overflowing with turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and all the trimmings. All present gleefully dive into the glorious banquet.
I have always been touched by how this particular celebration of Thanksgiving reminds me of the Eucharist. “We remember! We celebrate! We believe!” Just as the word of God reminds us of who we are as God’s children, so too our family memories remind us of who we are as family and as a people, how God has blessed us until now and has formed us into his family, his people. With our festive action of sharing a meal, we celebrate our past and our roots and, in so doing, become even more of who we are; just as our sharing in Christ’s Body and Blood causes us to become more and more His Body in our community and our world. As a result of our sharing, our bond of faith with one another and with God can grow more deeply as we become more completely one with each other.
Recognizing this spiritual link between our celebration of Thanksgiving and the Eucharist, for me nothing could be more appropriate and inspiring than attending Mass on Thursday morning as a perfect prelude to celebrating Thanksgiving with my family.
God bless!
Ed Johnson