A TIME TO BE THANKFUL by Reverend Michael P. Orsi

For many years now, I’ve spent Thanksgiving serving the poor at St. Matthew’s House.

I first began going there out of a sense of duty, feeling I needed to pay back the good things God had given me. As a prelude to the feast, I would often innumerate in my mind the blessings I’ve received: family, friends, health, financial security.

I’d never taken these things for granted, but admittedly, I took them as signs of God’s favor upon me (prideful as that may seem). Little did I realize that feeding the assembled guests would yield blessings quite apart from any other rewards I’ve enjoyed in life, and in a way, even exceeding those.

I am always amazed at the graces I receive when serving the hungry, the homeless and the addicted who gather for this holiday meal. As they enter the dining area I greet them with “Happy Thanksgiving” and “How are you today?” Their responses are heartfelt — words like: “And to you, Father. I’m blessed!”

At first, I thought, “How with so little, could they feel so satisfied?” Then, I recalled the words of Jesus, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven” (Lk: 6:20) and “The kingdom of God is within you.” ( Lk: 17:21).

The importance of my participation in this St. Matthew’s House function is made visible to me in so many ways. For example, once after the guests were served, I sat down with two gentlemen. I asked them their names. One said Moses, the other Elijah. I suddenly felt as though I had fed two prophets!

The scales fell from my eyes. There was no question in my mind as to who benefits from this feeding ministry. Not just them, but me as well. In fact, I’m the one who’s really blessed.

As a priest, I’m hardly a rich man, though by the world’s standards, I suppose I might be considered reasonably successful. But, as Mother Teresa said, “We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful.” And in so many unexpected ways I see faith in the faces of those I feed.

St. Matthew’s House takes its mission from the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 31-46 where he says that when we serve the poor we serve him. He tells us that by doing so we will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Indeed, the poor are God’s greatest gift to us! They provide for us the key to the eternal Thanksgiving Feast of the Lord.

Rev. Michael P. Orsi is senior advisor to Action for Life Florida and host of “A Conversation with Father Orsi,” a weekly television series that delves into current events with a focus on sanctity of life issues. His writings appear in numerous publications and online journals.