And one of the lepers, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”
(Lk 17:15-19)

How important it is to give thanks! In the story of the 10 lepers, it is the foreigner who returns to give thanks for being cured. Ten were healed, only one was saved—the one who returns to give thanks. A special Thanksgiving Day has been part of our national story since the Spanish celebrated a special day of Thanksgiving on September 8, 1565, in current Saint Augustine, Florida. Later in what became Virginia and Massachusetts groups of immigrants also celebrated days of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day has many traditions, but for many, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with all the balloons is a must! And even though this year with the restrictions of the pandemic the family celebration might be subdued, especially since so many have died, we can still give thanks and remember those who have died with joy. Happy Thanksgiving!