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29 Nov 2025

 

Gratitude And The Human Condition

Quite often I visit my parish church, the Mission Basilica of San Juan Capistrano. It is a huge, high-ceilinged structure, adorned with riveting gold-gilded reredos behind the main altar and depictions of early California missions on its walls. The Basilica is a grand tribute to the original mission established in 1776 by Fr. Junipero Serra.

Recently, as I approached a side entrance, a man in a wheelchair sat at the door. He was obviously homeless; his few possessions hung clumsily on his wheelchair. The entrance door is heavy, difficult to open. I assumed he waited for someone to hold the door open. I volunteered. He smiled but did not wish to enter. Then, he added: “I am grateful you asked.”

The Poor Of This World

Later, in the Basilica’s calming silence, I thought of that man’s Gratitude even as his poverty o’ertook him. Sadly, he is one of so many, for homelessness is on the rise. Daily, I see people pushing carts laden with their meager possessions. When I shop, a homeless person often rests drearily in front of the store entrance.

You know what I refer to. Our hearts go out to these unfortunate people… but of what avail is our sympathy to them when their lives are spent on the streets, without home or the love of family or the satisfaction of steady work to dignify their identity. And studies indicate that homelessness will increase.

These thoughts move me to express my Gratitude to God that I am spared the profound uncertainty which stalks so many destitute persons. No matter what the reason for their sorry state, I wish I could do more for them than merely smile at them as a sign of my concern … then go about my own affairs, and return to the warmth and security of my home, where I am safe, comfortable … and ever so Grateful.

Gratitude For The Mystery Of Creation

But where is my “home,” and yours?

Truth be told, our “home” is not merely the place we live. Our “home” is also this Mystery of Creation. Our world is filled with miracles every second. We are immersed in reality far beyond our ability to produce, starting with our very lives, our awareness of the birds that sing, the trees that give them shelter… on and on and on. Even our ability to behold all this is miraculous.

In Creation, Mystery abounds! We live in the Mystery of God’s Endless Miracles. The wonders of Creation are astonishing, yet many people still doubt - or ignore - the fact that nothing (including illness and misfortune) is unknown to God, unseen by Our Creator, Whose Intentions are also Mysteries.

Given the Miracle of Creation, we are certainly wise to recognize that every second of life is an opportunity for Gratitude, not an excuse for grumpy denial or fits of egocentric pique. Creation proclaims how truly blessed we are to be God’s Children, no matter what circumstances may do to us.

Even science, once the venue of cynical disdain, now admits that Creation is not – not – an accident. It is the result of a Divine act. If you doubt, read the evidence: God, the Science, the Evidence: Bollore, Michel-Yves, Bonnassies, Olivier: 9789998782402: Amazon.com: Books

Gratitude And Responsibility

Despite evidence, many people still act as if life were a free ride, a pointless experience, without a price to pay for the rights and freedoms which are freely given to our human nature. Many deny we are an indebted race, beholden to our Creator for our rights and freedoms, all of which come with corresponding responsibilities and conditions.

We are not meant to live as if our lives have no point or purpose. We are not meant to avoid accountability to God and one another. We have obligations to God and to one another.

Our first obligation as responsible adults is to acknowledge that we are dependent beings who are obliged to heed the Will of our Creator, and to admit that our rights and freedoms always come with responsibilities.

Some people refuse to accept this fact, and reject any limits to their behavior. Nevertheless, we are limited in what we ought to say and do. Indeed, our limits originate both from our Creator’s design and from right-thinking leaders of our nation who realized from our earliest days that we are responsible to God and to each other for our words and actions.

The Blessings Of America

Among our many blessings which merit our Gratitude is the fact that we live in the United States of America. One blessing (of many) we receive in our nation is our religious freedom. But let’s be clear: religious freedom is a right which originates not in human law but in the soul of mankind. The Constitution wisely recognizes that right as a pre-existing right granted by God to all human persons.

Sometimes our Gratitude wanes and we take our freedom for granted. We forget that the worship of God is both a right and an obligation which is indelibly rooted in human nature. When our ancestors wished to exercise that God-given right, the Framers rightly made it explicit in our Constitution. But the freedom to worship is ours by Divine mandate.

Today we see infringements on those God-given rights and freedoms in our country. For example:

• Abortion takes the life of an innocent child. Such killing numbs the conscience of our nation.


• The Little Sisters of the Poor have been taken to court several times to force them to offer abortion to employees.


• The so-called "sanctuary city" phenomenon rejects just laws and grants illegals free State services at taxpayer expense. This furthers official lawlessness under the guise of false charity, and is costly to lifelong citizens.


• It also opens the door to official lawlessness on the part of those who, ironically, are elected to enforce just laws.

These few (of many) examples reveal disregard for both human and Divine law. Disregard for the moral aspects of life generates a sense of self-righteous irresponsibility to God and other human beings. This lack of self-restraint is a danger to all. Lies, incivility and violence (psychological and physical) soon ensue, as the products of selfish anarchy. The cultural and moral bases of our nation’s idealism is thus eroded, as History repeatedly reveals.

The adage that History repeats itself is all too true, because so many people resist learning … but History’s warnings that it can happen here are eminently clear and obvious.

Finally . . .

Wisdom (both human and Divine) tells us never to push Gratitude to God from personal awareness or from public life. As individuals and as a nation, we have an eternal relationship with our Creator which predates our brief span upon this Earth. We are wise, then, to take to heart the truths which flow from our dependence on our Creator, Whose Children we truly are.

• Our Creator knows us all, understands our thoughts, watches us when we walk and when we sleep.


• Our Creator knows every detail of our conduct. We do not utter a word before our Creator knows all about it.


• God’s infinite knowledge is beyond us all. No matter where we are or what we seek, God is there, holding us fast.


• Even the darkest night is not dark in God’s sight; night is as clear as day, as are the motives which inspire our behavior.


• Our years are but an instant in God’s own time, so we are wise to ask our Creator to be with us on our road to eternity.


• We are also wise to thank our Creator with endless Gratitude for giving us His Eternal Love and Forgiveness.


• In fact, we are given so many blessings. How can we not express our Gratitude to God for all His works and wonders?