2022-11-23 Giving Thanks on the Eve of Thanksgiving

2022-11-23 - Thanksgiving Eve 

Deuteronomy 8:1-10     Philippians 4:6-20     Luke 17:11-19

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

In the Small Catechism’s explanation of the First Article of the Apostles Creed, Pastor Luther lists a number of things which our heavenly Father provides for us. He points us to those things which are easily overlooked and taken for granted. Things like our bodies, senses, clothing and shoes, house and home, family, and work. We do not deserve any of these things.  Nor do we deserve God’s continual care and attention.  Nonetheless, our Maker gives us all of this and more out of his providential care and mercy for us. In the Large Catechism, Pr. Luther expands on this list with a cosmological perspective: “He causes all created things to serve for the use and necessities of life. These include the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens, day and night, air, fire, water, earth, and whatever it bears and produces.  They include birds and fish, beasts, grain, and all kinds of produce (Psalm 104). They also include whatever else there is for bodily and temporal goods, like good government, peace, and security.) (LC II:14-16) 

The purpose of the First Article and its explanation is two fold.  First, to provide in synopsis form what the Bible teaches us about God’s care for us. God provides everything for us.  God provided for us in the past. He provides for us in the present. He promises to provide for us in the future. 

The second purpose of  the first article is to move us into a state of humility.  Our sinful nature wants to see everything in terms of “me, mine, I did that, I possess this, I made that happen, I made choices”. Our American culture encourages us along these lines to focus on all things individual.  In asserting our place and significance in the world and in our community, we easily slip into arrogance and pride.  The world revolves around me, my will, and my needs.

Each of us are important and have significant roles to play in the lives of those around us. However, in confessing these words, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth” we are humbled to learn that we are small and insignificant in comparison to the grandeur of God and God’s abilities. We are further humbled when we recognize that we would not exist nor be able to do what we do, except for God’s generosity and mercy. As Pr. Luther says, “So we learn from this article that none of us owns for himself, nor can preserve, his life nor anything that is here listed or can be listed. This is true no matter how small and unimportant a thing it might be.  For all is included in the word Creator.” (LC II:16)   

All that we have, all that we possess is a gift from God. On the eve of our national day of Thanksgiving, we are aware that our fellow American citizens have many thoughts about our common land, heritage, and democracy. For us though, our approach to this national holiday may be summed up with the one word that resounds as the theme of tonight’s Bible readings: Remember. 

Moses says to Remember.  Remember the LORD’s commandments.  Remember how the LORD led you through the wilderness; how he provided food for you; disciplined you into repentance and obedience.  Remember that the Promised Land is a gift.  In order for the abundance of the land to be enjoyed and for you to live in security, remember to keep the commandments that the LORD God gave you.  

The Apostle Paul says to remember. Remember to pray to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Remember that the Lord always wants to hear your concerns and requests. And, remember dear friends, that in the midst of a world that can be filled with ugliness, hate and often seems to have gone mad, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” If you are having trouble focusing on something, I tell you to remember your baptism, remember you receive Jesus and His benefits in Holy Communion, and remember that your salvation is a gift to you!

In the telling of the 10 lepers encounter with Jesus, the Holy Spirit instructs us to Remember to be obedient to the Lord’s Word. But, don’t be so obedient that you forget to first return to the source of your joy and salvation and offer your prayers of thanksgiving.  The Lord Jesus is the source of our joy and salvation. The Samaritan returned to the Lord when he saw that he was healed. We return to the Lord Jesus because he is the one who dies on the cross for us so that we too may receive God’s promises.  As Isaiah says, he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes, we are healed. 

God’s Word is for us as we receive the Word through Holy Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Scriptures. The Lord’s salvation is for us as we receive the gift of Christ’s cross.  God’s healing is for us. The Father’s forgiveness is for us on account of the cross of the Son.  All of this we receive through faith. A faith created within us by the Word through the Holy Spirit. 

In response to God’s gifts, we remember to offer our thanksgiving to God. 

On the eve of our National Day of Thanksgiving, we remember to give thanks to God for the land in which we live. America is 246 years old.  Despite many challenges over the years, the American experiment of democracy and the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness continues.  We give thanks for our country, our system of governance, our freedoms, and our hopes.  We give thanks for the inalienable rights we enjoy in our country. We do not take this country, the United States constitution, or any other gift of God for granted.  

We return to the Lord Jesus to say a heartfelt thank you for of His generosities beyond measure.  

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