Updated December 16, 2005

Thanksgiving this year has a deep and bittersweet reality within my heart.   The world stands at the brink of violent outbursts, which jeopardize world peace. I pray fervently for world peace - peace in the Middle East, peace in the entire world.

Our country, still stunned by last year's September 11 diabolical terrorist act, faced recently the violence of a sniper's senseless killings along with other acts of violence. Daily we hear of killings, often by young people, acting out their struggles, frustrations, and many negative worldly influences. I pray for protection for our country. I pray for the sanctification of these United States of America. May we work to establish the kingdom of Heaven here on earth. I do mean it when I pray, "Your Kingdom come! Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven!"

The Church suffers from sexual sins and crimes of priests greatly compounded by the insensitivity and mismanagement by some of us responsible among the hierarchy. The victims and their families are hurt as are many of the faithful who are disillusioned, disappointed, and discouraged by what occurred. We pray for all involved, especially the victims, that the unconditional love and boundless mercy of the Lord will bless them, heal them, and make them whole.

Families, too, are struggling today. Materialism, divorce, and many distractions threaten to destroy the family, wreaking havoc in the lives of the children. These children are so often the innocent victims in a 'grown up' world with 'grown up' problems. I pray for all families, those of our Eparchy, and those of the world. May they be blessed and strengthened in the Lord.

We in the East are positive in our thinking. We always thank God. We thank God for the good and we thank God for our temptations and struggles. One of my favorite sayings which I repeat often (with a smile) and which is well known to many of you is: "Very good! Thank God!" Why is this so? Because we are so aware that Jesus Christ is our hope. (I Timothy 1:1) In His Spirit we are renewed. Together we witness His love. (Theme of the Synod for Lebanon in 1995) As Saint Anthony of the Desert teaches us, "Without temptations no one can be saved." The key is to focus on God and not on our struggles or temptations. "When we pray," someone once asked, "do we focus on the mountain that must be moved or the God Who can move it?" Jesus is truly our hope and He has won the victory for us. We must claim that victory and live in His light through prayer and virtue. "For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe." (I Timothy 4:10)
It is in this spirit that Saint Paul advises us as he guided the Christian Community at Rome, "Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12) I link this text with his words in First Thessalonians 5:16-18 where he encourages the Christians not only to rejoice, but also to give thanks and to pray always.  "Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

The Greek word, Eucharist, means 'thanksgiving'. Every day, as I approach the Holy Altar to offer the Divine Liturgy, I thank Almighty God for His love and mercy. I thank our Lord Jesus Christ for inviting me to receive Him, the Bread of Life, in the Holy Eucharist. This is surely my greatest joy each day. I also thank Him for all the blessings in my life. You, the clergy and the faithful of the Eparchy, my extended family, are among my biggest blessings.

I try not to limit my joy and gratitude to the Divine Liturgy. Rather, I strive to carry the grace of the Divine Liturgy in my heart and in my actions throughout the entire day. I want to be Jesus to all that I meet. Beautiful people, may you all be Jesus to all that you meet. We may very well be the only Gospel a person will ever read. If we carry Jesus in our heart, and if we reflect that presence of the Lord on our faces, we will shine our Lord Jesus Christ to all whom we meet. We will develop in our lives an 'attitude of gratitude'. We can do this in little ways. We can smile, offer a kind word, be patient and loving to someone. There are countless ways that we can show love and kindness to others. And it can all be done in that 'attitude  of gratitude' that we want to become an essential part of who we are. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays, "fill our hearts with joy and gladness". May we be so full of the Lord's joy and gladness that it will flow out of us.

We have so much to be grateful for. We live in the richest country in the world. We have so much. We have much more than we could ever need. What we will eat on Thanksgiving Day could feed a family for a month in a poor country. Let us see Jesus in each other and especially in those who are in need. Let us love one another as we would love the Lord Jesus Himself. Let us serve one another as we would serve the Lord Jesus Himself.

"The One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness" in time and eternity. (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Your servant in Christ,

+ John A. Elya

Eparch of Newton

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