Thanksgiving Sunday
Sunday, October 7th, 2007click here for past entries
Loving God, you call us to remember your saving acts and your love for us revealed through Jesus Christ. As we remember, enable us always to give thanks and to be filled with your peace by the power of your Spirit; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As with many conversations that we read in the gospel of John, today’s gospel is a little bit hard to follow at first. There’s talk about loaves and bread from heaven and signs, but unless we know what has just taken place, it might not make much sense. You see, only a few verses earlier, Jesus had taken five loaves of bread and a couple of fish offered by a boy in the crowd and had fed 5000 people with them. After this had happened, we read the following: “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world’” (Jn. 6:14).
However, by the time that we get to today’s gospel, the people seem to have no memory of ever having seen such a sign. In fact, Jesus says to them right away: You’re not here “because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (Jn. 6:26). They don’t seem to recognize who Jesus is any more. All they know is that he fed them. And then, a few verses later, the memory loss is complete. “What sign are you going to give us?” “What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness” (Jn. 6:30-31). If they had only remembered the events of the day before, they would have given thanks for the miracle that they had witnessed. Instead, they are always looking for more.
Aren’t there a number of other cases, too, where remembering can lead to giving thanks? I think especially of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, where remembering and giving thanks always go together. When we gather at the Lord’s Table, we remember: We remember God’s grace in saving his people, from Abraham and Sarah right up to the present time. We remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. We remember how Jesus gave his life for ours. We remember how Jesus gives himself to us – the bread of life, the bread from heaven – giving us strength for our journey through the wilderness of this world.
At the same time, we give thanks – and perhaps it is even the remembering that leads to giving thanks. We give thanks for the gifts of bread and wine. We give thanks for Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that is ours through him. We give thanks for the gift of salvation and for the love of God which has been made known to us through Jesus. It is no accident that Holy Communion is also known as the Eucharist – a word which means Thanksgiving. As we share in this heavenly meal today, we remember, and we give thanks.
Actually, we do exactly the same thing when we bring an offering, just as we heard in the first reading today from Deuteronomy. This reading was part of the instructions given to the people of Israel for what to do when they would bring their first fruits and their tithes to the Temple in Jerusalem. Oddly enough, they were instructed to remember and to give thanks. Above all, they were to remember that the land was a gift from God. The word “inheritance” is used for the land, as it was given to them by God, and they had done nothing to earn it. They were never to forget who the land really belonged to. It was God’s land, and was passed on to them as an inheritance.
At the same time, they were to remember how they had been slaves in Egypt, and how God had acted in order to save them and set them free. They were to remember how God had sustained them in the wilderness before they had been brought into this good and fertile land. They were to remember that they themselves also belonged to God. And as they remembered, they were to bring their first fruits to the Lord’s house and to give thanks for this bounty which had come from God’s hand. They were to remember and to give thanks.
How easy it is to forget where we have come from and to whom we belong. We would not be here if God had not created us. We would not be able to work and to make a living if God had not first given us the breath of life and the skills and abilities to be able to do so. We would not have the materials to be able to make or to grow anything if God had not first created them. All that we have and all that we are has come from God’s hand and belongs to God.
Yet, we forget. We forget just like the people in today’s gospel. We forget how much we have already been given and end up always looking for more. We forget, and instead of giving thanks, we become focused on all of the things that we don’t have. We become worried and wonder how we’re going to get enough to meet our needs. We forget that the Lord is near.
Any of you who have ever read the whole story of the Israelites’ exodus out of Egypt and their journey through the wilderness will know that God’s people “forgot” quite often. Even though God provided for them through one miracle after another, each new challenge brought only complaints and cries of despair. “We’re thirsty! Where are we going to get any water in this desert? – There’s nothing to eat here and we’re sick of this manna! – We should have just stayed in Egypt. At least we had leeks and garlic there!” It’s a wonder that God didn’t just send them back! But God had a purpose for them, in spite of their amnesia. God continued to provide for his people.
Yet, we dare not begin to think that we are any better at remembering and giving thanks. How often do we simply worry about the future rather than praying about the future? How often do we act as if God is far away and neither sees nor hears us? How often do we focus on every problem in sight and neglect to notice what God has been doing lately?
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you (Phil. 4:8-9).
Focus on those things that are honorable and worthy of praise. Keep on doing what God has called you to do, and the God of peace will be with you.
This is part of the powerful passage from Philippians 4 that was our second reading today. It is a passage that cannot be emphasized often enough and that also shows up in our October newsletter. The passage reminds us that God is near. It reminds us to focus on all that is good and to keep on following Jesus and living as God’s children. It reminds us that prayer with thanksgiving is a powerful alternative to worrying and brings with it peace for our hearts and minds. It reminds us that giving thanks not only goes along with remembering, but also with the gift of peace.
At this time of Thanksgiving, may we also be able to remember whose we are and to give thanks. May we be able to bring our prayers and requests to God with thanksgiving and thus experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. May we be able to focus on all that is honorable and worthy of praise. May we continue following and learning from Jesus Christ, and experience the God of peace, who is with us. “The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything” (Phil. 4:5-6). Amen.
Thanksgiving Sunday(C) Deuteronomy 26:1-11 October 7, 2007 Philippians 4:4-9 St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church John 6:25-35 Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore
© 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved
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