Today’s normal Tradition Thursday post is on hold on account of the holiday. The series will resume next week. In the meantime, some Scripture and words of wisdom from some Saints. We start with Psalm 118:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his steadfast love endures for ever!
2Â Let Israel say,
    âHis steadfast love endures for ever.â
3Â Let the house of Aaron say,
    âHis steadfast love endures for ever.â
4Â Let those who fear the Lord say,
    âHis steadfast love endures for ever.â5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me free.
6Â With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
    What can man do to me?
7Â The Lord is on my side to help me;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8Â It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in man.
9Â It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to put confidence in princes.10 All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11Â They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12Â They surrounded me like bees,
    they blazed[a] like a fire of thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13Â I was pushed hard,[b] so that I was falling,
    but the Lord helped me.
14Â The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.15 Hark, glad songs of victory
    in the tents of the righteous:
âThe right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16Â Â Â Â Â the right hand of the Lord is exalted,
    the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!â
17Â I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18Â The Lord has chastened me sorely,
    but he has not given me over to death.19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the Lord.20 This is the gate of the Lord;
    the righteous shall enter through it.21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me
    and hast become my salvation.
22Â The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the head of the corner.
23Â This is the Lordâs doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24Â This is the day which the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25Â Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord!
    O Lord, we beseech thee, give us success!26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the Lord!
    We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27Â The Lord is God,
    and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
    up to the horns of the altar!28 Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee;
    thou art my God, I will extol thee.
29Â O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures for ever!
(Psalm 118)
Next we have the Letter from St. James:
17Â Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18Â Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
(James 1:17-18)
Then we move to St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians:
12Â Put on then, as Godâs chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, 13Â forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14Â And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15Â And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Â Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Â And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Colossians 3:12-17)
And now a few more saints:
In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.
-St. Teresa of Avila
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.
-St. Ambrose of Milan
Count your Blessings, and be grateful for what you have. Share freely with those without. And thank God unceasingly.