By: Daniel Mascarenhas, nSJ
Each September, two Jesuit novices are welcomed at L’Arche Tahoma Hope for three months of service and learning. At our community Thanksgiving celebration, they are invited to offer a reflection on their time with us. This year, novice Daniel Mascarenhas centered his reflection on Debbie Wilson’s Thanksgiving Prayer.
I didn’t grow up with Thanksgiving. And I have spent most of my Thanksgivings in the US eating Chinese takeout food at some campground or city park. Since I don’t have family here, I usually travel on the long weekend. Thus, I’m not qualified to give a Thanksgiving talk. The only reason I was asked to speak tonight was because of my Jesuit novice status. But I’m thankful to be here and to celebrate Thanksgiving with you.
The line that really resonated with me in the light of my time here at L’Arche was “Thank you Jesus for helping us learn to love and follow you.” I came to L’Arche to learn how to love. As my time draws to a close, I can’t say that I am an expert at love and I never will be, but I can say I have been taught by example by the best: the core members and the assistants. So many times I have questioned what am I doing here? What is life about? The only answer that makes sense is love. That is what gives life meaning and purpose.
I have learned to see beauty in relationships and service, in loving and being loved. I’m thankful to God for opening my heart and mind to love. I’m thankful to L’Arche for loving me as I have learned to love, for being kind and patient, for holding my hand as I have stumbled through self doubt, fatigue, cynicism and pride. L’Arche has shown be that life truly is about love and laughter. And I’m thankful for that.
The one thing I hope to carry with me to my future Jesuit communities is the round of gratitudes at dinner table. Can you imagine God sitting with us at table and smiling with us as we share what we are grateful for? Can you imagine God sitting here with us as we celebrate the virtue of gratitude? Jesuits pray the examen everyday in which gratitude to God is a significant part. But we pray that alone with God. And that’s not a bad thing as there is a certain intimacy that comes with being alone with God.
Here at L’arche, it is even more beautiful to hear what others are grateful for, things big and small, profound and mundane. I feel it has a multiplier effect. Suddenly I’m grateful for things that Mark or Dorothy have received as well. I’m happy for them and it makes me happy. Sometimes it helps me see things I take for granted with new eyes. For instance, I wish I will remember to say “good day at work” as Mark says.
Gratitude has always been a part of my life mantras. I carried those pithy cliches in my back pocket. “I’m too blessed to be stressed.” “I have an attitude of gratitude.” As a Jesuit, gratitude has become a bigger part of my life, with the daily examen. One of my main graces during the 30 day Spiritual Exercises was to realize that God has given me everything I have, I’m grateful for that and out of that gratitude comes by desire to love and serve God and God’s people. And thus gratitude is the potion that energizes me to reach out to heaven and earth, at once. Yup, it took me 30 days to learn that much. I’m a slow learner.
A few weeks back I was on the bus from Seattle to Tacoma. It was late in the evening and I was tired after a long day of biking around. I was standing in the aisle as all the seats were taken. I began to nod off out of fatigue and boredom. After a few minutes, this well dressed young man, who until then had been working on his laptop, got up and offered me his seat. He said, “you look tired, have a seat.” I protested at first, mostly out of reflex but also out of embarrassment. I don’t think I have been offered physical assistance in a long time. But then I thought it was nice of him to offer and I could really do with a nap. And it was wonderful. It was wonderful to nap and wonderful to have experienced the generosity of another human being. When we got of the bus, I was filled with gratitude and all I could say was thank you. I wouldn’t pay him back and I wouldn’t keep score. I would just remain in gratitude.
So tonight, let’s remain in gratitude for everything received. Let the feeling sink in and let it permeate our whole being. I give thanks to God and to you, for life, love, laughter and all things beautiful.