Why?

Why?  Do you remember hearing that question from the 5 year old, as he or she is watching you rake leaves, sweep the garage, vacuum your carpeting, or whatever you are doing?   
“Whatcha doing Dad?”
“Why are you doing that?”
“Why….?”
And that kind of conversation can go on for quite a while…longer than you or I probably want it to go.  And it usually ends with something like,
“Because I want to…Just because…”
“How about we go get some ice cream?”  (my way of stopping the incessant questions, but of course, it reinforces the child’s questioning, and so you’ll hear them even more :)
So this upcoming Sunday we will be celebrating Thanksgiving at Resurrection.  And of course it will continue all through the week, at least through Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.  
So let me play the role of the 5 year old:  “Why?”  “Why are you doing Thanksgiving?  Why do you always say “Thank you!”  
Here’s how the Scripture readings for this Sunday answer this question:
We all have the “faith and love…the hope of salvation…God has destined us not for wrath (as we read in this Sunday’s first reading from Zephaniah 1) but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.  Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
And as this Sunday’s Gospel Reading tells us, “we will have an abundance”!!  
For God is the God of abundant love, grace, and mercy, giving all of us eternal salvation!!
How will you answer the question, “Why celebrate Thanksgiving?”  Please share an answer in the “COMMENT” space under this blog.
And as we continue to hear the questions, “Why?...”, may you and I enjoy some turkey and pie, and football (and maybe even some ice cream :)