40 Days of Gratitude - Palm Sunday & Holy Week
04-02-2023Weekly ReflectionRev. Emmanuel I. IhemeduThis week, we will give thanks for the pearls of great price in our lives. (Matthew 13:45). As we prepare for Easter, we want to finish our gratitude journey by reflecting upon those things that matter the most to us.
Palm Sunday, Apr 2
SELF-CARE SUNDAY: Share one kind thing you can do for yourself today in thanksgiving for all you have done in the previous week.
Mon, Apr 3
TODAY, WE INVITE YOU TO GIVE THANKS FOR YOURSELF, YOUR HEALTH, YOUR ABILITY, YOUR MIND, AND FOR WHO YOU ARE.
It is easy to give thanks for others but often more challenging to sit and say thank you to ourselves.
Tue, Apr 4
TODAY, WE INVITE YOU TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HEIRLOOMS IN YOUR LIFE, THE REMINDERS AND SIGNS OF YOUR CONNECTION TO THINGS PAST, THINGS LOVED, OR THINGS LOST.
Many of us have special items that we either carry with us or have around the house that remind us of people we love, places we’ve visited, or events in our lives.
Wed, Apr 5
CONSIDER THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE THAT BRING YOU JOY AND GIVE THANKS FOR THEM.
Do you have a favorite coffee mug, favorite chair, favorite plant or tree? Is it the first crocus of Spring that you see? Is it the smell of freshly baked bread? What small things bring you joy that you can give thanks for?
Holy Thursday, Apr 6
TODAY WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO WRITE DOWN AND GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR SQUARE SQUAD.
Author and professor Brené Brown suggests that each of us have a “square squad” or a very small (think small square post-it) list of the people whose opinions matter the most. She says that this list contains the people who have earned the right to hear our stories and who want to support us in living courageous, vulnerable lives. We see this demonstrated through the disciples who stand with Jesus on Holy Thursday, imperfectly but perfectly human. Who will show up for you when you need it most?
Good Friday, Apr 7
TODAY, CONSIDER THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ICONS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE AS CONNECTIONS TO OTHER TIMES AND OTHER PLACES.
Today is Good Friday, and as Catholics, we pray the Stations of the Cross, reflecting on the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus. Icons are windows into another time, a way of connecting us to things from the past. Photographs do a similar thing. Photographs connect us with people or moments that have passed and many of us have treasured photographs in our homes that we are grateful to have.
Holy Saturday, Apr 8
ON THIS HOLY SATURDAY, WE INVITE YOU TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE TRADITIONS IN YOUR LIFE THAT BRING JOY, MEANING AND CONNECTION.
What are the ways that you mark the passage of time and how do these celebrations connect you with others, with God or more deeply within yourself?
Happy Easter, Christ is Risen!
Thank you for taking the journey with us these last forty days.