A Thanksgiving Homily

Two weeks ago this very evening I awoke in the recovery room of Roswell Park Cancer Institute so overwhelmed with gratitude all I could do, for several minutes, was cry.

So overcome all I could utter, through the tears, was “thank you.” Never have two words meant so much.

Thank you. Thank you God.

Thank you God for the presence of a world class cancer institute in our backyard, with a newly arrived surgeon who, full of smarts and compassion, full of determination and grace had removed the cancer from me and had painstakingly poked and prodded until she was sure---absolutely positively sure—that all of the cancer was gone. That anything which looked or felt suspicious was removed, checked, double checked and triple checked.

Thank you God for a community of family and friends huddled in that waiting room, and across town and across the country by phone and computer, waiting for the news…committed to walk with me wherever this journey takes us. Members, each and everyone, of Team Cathy—people who aren’t just helping me, but are fully in this with me. Ready to help me laugh and cry.

Sometimes all in the same moment.

Thank you God for the community of faith which is this diocese and this parish Church of the Good Shepherd—people who prayed me through that day, the days leading up to it and all the days yet to come. A community of love who will walk with me in good times and in bad, who will rejoice with every victory and will lament with every set back. A community, which encompasses a faith in the bread of life, Christ Jesus who’ll never leave us hungry, never leave us thirsty. A faith in the peace of God, which truly surpasses all understanding.

Thank you God for faith. For the indescribable, ever present belief that, as Paul states in tonight’s Epistle: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure comes from the love of God, poured out for us through Jesus Christ.

And, thank you God for cancer.

Yes, thank you for cancer.

Because of cancer I am learning lessons I never even knew I needed to learn. Because of cancer I am discovering a depth of love and faith and gratitude I never knew existed. Because of cancer, I have learned that Thanksgiving is not just a day for turkey, football and pie.

Because of cancer, dear God, I have found gratitude.

True gratitude, Gratitude from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. Gratitude deep within my heart and soul.

Almighty and gracious God, for all of this and all that is yet to come, I simply say,

Thank You.

Amen.