Thanksgiving

Luke 12:13-21 - Thanksgiving/Harvest - November 24, 2016
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

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Why does God give us so much?  In order to answer this question, we must also be able to answer the question of why God permits us to go without.  No matter how much wealth we have, our sinful flesh would present this latter question as the most pressing: Why God?  How could God let me suffer so much?  Why do you take so much away?  Well, could it be, perhaps, that we don’t deserve even that which he lets us keep?  Are we not sinners at the constant mercy of God who gives and takes according to his own inscrutable wisdom?  Yes.  We are.  It is as Job confessed, “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). 

So how is it that Job was able to confess this so plainly and confidently?  How is it that we might learn to live with much as well as with little – to be, with St. Paul, content in whatever state we find ourselves?  It comes down to knowing the character of God – that is, getting a glimpse into this inscrutable wisdom of his – whether he is giving or taking.  This glimpse is graciously afforded where God reveals his favor and regard for you.  In fact, he shows you where it is always found, so it is more than a glimpse.  The face of God that shines upon you is found in Christ his Son who suffered and died for you.  It is found where this same Christ continues to serve you with his blood-bought forgiveness, teaching you to accept all God’s goodness with a clean conscience as free gifts from a loving Father. 

We interpret all things that God permits through the lens of the cross.  Through the cross of Jesus that gains our salvation, we are able to see the hardships and pain we endure not as the crushing heel of an aloof or vengeful deity, but as the gentle hand of our Father who lays crosses on us in order to sharpen our gaze on Christ his beloved Son, our Brother, who is our all and all. 

Thanksgiving

Luke 17:11-19 - Thanksgiving - November 22, 2012 

Knowing Whom to Thank

                         

Today is Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is not a church holiday.  It’s a national holiday.  It’s a nice thing for our country to have devoted a day to consider what we are thankful for.  We’ll take advantage of it.  But we celebrate this holiday in church, not because we need the state to remind us to be thankful, but because it is here that we learn how to be thankful, and to whom to be thankful, because it is here that we learn about Jesus.  Consider what we pray before we celebrate the Lord's Supper: “It is truly mete, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto you, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord…”  We thank God first by identifying who He is.  He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is our God who shed His blood to redeem us.  He is the One who comforts us and brings us peace through the words of Jesus.  He is the triune God who tends to our needs, who saves us, and who takes care of us in body and soul by grace alone.  And so, in this way, He teaches us how to thank. 

The word “thank” is kind of a neat word.  It derives simply from the word “think.”  To be thankful is to think about what it is that another has given you – and to think about why he gave it.  Consider that other word that we have and use: “grateful.”  This word derives from where we get our word “grace.”  And this is a wonderful connection, and I’ll use it to make the point that we all need to know about thanksgiving.  To thank God is to think about His grace.  This means that whatever it is that you have – that God has given you – that you don’t deserve – that you kind of think you kind of do deserve – whatever it is that makes you wealthy and fortunate and happy and safe and fed today – all this you have solely because of God’s grace and favor – grace and favor (and here’s the point) that is found in Christ alone.  There is no such thing as thanking/being grateful to God apart from knowing Jesus. 

Thanksgiving

Psalm 100- Thanksgiving - November 24, 2011 

  O Give Thanks unto the Lord, for He is Good

Last Sunday was the Last Sunday of the Church Year.  Next Sunday is the First Sunday in Advent, which marks the beginning of the Church Year.  Today is Thanksgiving Day.  But you won’t find this day in the liturgical calendar, because Thanksgiving is not a Church holiday.  It’s a national holiday invented by Americans.  Of all national holidays this is the most appropriate one for us to celebrate in church.  After all, God commands us to give Him thanks every day for all that He has done for us.  GOD TEACHES US HOW TO THANK HIM BY TEACHING US WHAT HE HAS DONE. 

Thanksgiving

Luke 17:11-19 - Thanksgiving - November 27, 2014
Thanking God by Returning to Christ

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. 

Let us pray:

Christ, the Life of all the living,
Christ, the Death of death, our foe,
Who, Thyself for me once giving
To the darkest depths of woe:
Through thy sufferings, death, and merit
I eternal life inherit. 
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou hast borne the smiting only
That my wounds might all be whole;
Thou hast suffered, sad and lonely,
Rest to give my weary soul;
Yea, the curse of God enduring,
Blessing unto me securing.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.  Amen. 

Today is Thanksgiving Day.  It is a national holiday.  It’s good and wise that a nation set aside a day for such a worthy celebration.