There is this story about two angels who were bringing up prayers to God in two baskets.
One basket was filled with prayers and the other just had a few prayers.
The angel at the gate of heaven asked the two angels about the disparity of the amount of prayers in the two baskets.
The angel carrying the basket filled with prayers said that it contained petitions and needs of almost every kind.
Then angel carrying the basket that had just a few prayers said that it contained prayers of thanksgiving.
Certainly for us who live in this world, we will always have needs - health and healing, peace and reconciliation, happiness and success in study and work.
More so when we are in a desperate need, we will storm heaven and pray for help and deliverance.
Yet do we thank God when He has given us His help? Or simply just give thanks to God for His love for us?
The 1st reading talks about the spiritual and the unspiritual. Not that our needs and petitions are unspiritual. Even at Mass, we offer up needs and petitions.
But the Mass is also eucharistic - it is essentially thanksgiving. We are called to raise up our minds and hearts to God and give thanks for all He has given to us.
So as we come for Mass, we may go forth to bear fruits of thanksgiving. May our constant offering of thanks to God being about an abundance of blessing for our world.