Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,
God our heavenly Father, as a sign of His great love for all His children, gives us freely every good fruit of creation for our benefit. Our farmers have begun to harvest their crops. We have gleaned our gardens before the inevitable end of these lovely fall days. As we prepare again for another coming winter, we look forward first to Thanksgiving.
THANKSGIVING
We have so much to be thankful for. Even in the midst of our daily struggles, our sorrows and fears, the infinite grace of God always invites our gratitude and loving obedience. No matter what trials we may be facing, we know that all our suffering, united with our Lord’s on the Cross, have value. The victory of our Lord Jesus over the tomb and death promises us the same ultimate triumph. This does not make our suffering disappear, but it does give us hope and faith, and allows us to grasp the meaning of suffering which makes possible joy and freedom, rather than despair.
Not all of this life is suffering, of course. In so many ways, little or great, simple or miraculous, we see the redemption of Christ’s Resurrection daily renewed in our lives. We experience as light reflected in our lives that Christ-like, selfless love which is God’s own triune life poured into the world. We know both joy and happiness. And if it is true that happiness cannot last in this world, it is also true that joy is eternal in both this and the next.
Our gratitude to such a loving God should reflect this depth of faith. We set aside a few days each fall to express, with family and friends and Church, that lively thankfulness with which we accept every gift from God. But let’s not limit our thanksgiving to this time only. May God stir the true spirit of gratitude in our hearts!
ANNIVERSARY
Each year at this time, I remember the visit I made to Sioux City on November 10, 2005, for the official announcement that I had been appointed your bishop by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Each year, my gratitude for this gift increases, and my humility in the face of my own human frailty grows. I know, more truly now than a year ago, that I alone can do nothing for you, or your faith, or your salvation. But with all of you, and your great faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we have already done much together, and I pray daily that you and God will lead me in what I as bishop must do.
Especially in this Year for Priests, I am very grateful for all the priests of this diocese and for the convocation for priestly unity which we completed a few weeks ago. Please continue to pray devoutly for us priests, and for all the priests and bishops of the whole Church. We count on your spiritual support.
HEALTH CARE REFORM
I am also grateful this week that, in passing the massive health care reform bill H.R. 3962, the U.S. House of Representatives included the pro-life amendment offered by Mr. Stupak of Michigan. This amendment is critically important to our nation’s future. It maintains the status quo of the Hyde Amendment, prohibiting any federal funds supporting abortion in this health care bill. As my brother bishops have repeatedly said, any reform of our health care system must defend the sanctity of human life, especially of the weakest and most vulnerable, if it is to have any chance at all of achieving the good being proposed. We continue to work for the cause of advancing access to quality health care reform. There is still much to critique in the details of this legislation, but this minimum standard, at least, has been met.
Let us continue to work and pray vigorously to ensure that this threshold is not once again forsaken for some future expediency. If the Stupak amendment is changed, this could signal continual undermining the cause of expanding access to health care in ways that are truly helpful to the vulnerable among us. It is our vocation as Catholics to ensure, as far as humanly possible, that our elected representatives in Congress and the White House never forget, and can never ignore, the truth about the scourge of abortion.
I pray for each of you, that your holiday for giving thanks may lead you more deeply into the mystery of our true Thanksgiving, Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. Please pray for me, and for each other. May the Lord continue to bless our great diocesan Church. Don’t give up on the Broncos, there are still more games to win!
Your brother in Christ,
Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City