This post is part of the Lenten series “From Ashes to Glory.”
Look carefully at all we need to thank God for. Some of his gifts are given to all of us: We live in plenty. Most of us pray and worship in peace. Some of God’s gifts are deeply personal—good parents, a good marriage, faithful friends. These are all gifts from God that we may appreciate too little.
Some of our gifts are so much a part of everyday life that we do not think of them as gifts. Who thanks God for everyday things like drinkable water in every faucet? For trustworthy supermarkets? For a web of highways? We can thank God for these things too.
And then there are the greatest gifts: our “firm hope” of living with Christ forever in our own flesh. Our confidence that God cares for me, personally. Our amazing gift of the Eucharist.
We are grateful to a loving God. Grateful that our loving God remains present in the gifts he gives. Grateful that God is always acting to care and provide for us. Grateful that God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to us and remains with us, God-with-us.
As we grow in gratitude, we grow more willing to let go of our attachments to things that hold us back. This Lent is good time to reflect on these attachments and ask our Lord Jesus to free us from them.