Great Thanksgiving

AM Psalm 40, 54 • PM Psalm 51
Exod. 34:18-35 • 1 Thess. 3:1-13 • Matt. 5:27-37

Some days, the smallest thing will change my mood for the worse. While I like to think of myself as generally holding a balanced disposition, or not letting minor inconveniences or frustrations get to me, I have to admit that it can be easy for me to spiral. When it isn't remedied, then I just feel off the rest of the day. While having that self-awareness of interiority might be good, it is not enough to produce growth. Work needs to be done.

Those who practice spirituality have all sorts of ways for developing internal growth, encouraging the cultivation of peace. One way is the intentional practice of gratitude and thankfulness. In today's epistle, Paul writes to those at Thessalonica with these joyful words: “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?” (I Thess. 3:9). Paul just finished saying that despite all the hardships and persecutions him and others have endured, he can give thanks for what is happening in Thessalonica.

The word of choice here from Paul is “thanks.” The word for giving thanks here in Greek is derived from eucharistos, which of course is where Eucharist comes from (and why the eucharistic prayer is called the “Great Thanksgiving” in the Prayer Book. The Eucharist has been called the “outstanding means whereby the faithful may express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.” Hopefully this is not risky to say this, but I would extend the boundaries of this to include not simply the sacrament of the Eucharist, but also the practice of offering genuine thankfulness to God for the good that exists in the world.

The work of bringing thankfulness into the world reveals the mystery of Christ and the true nature of the Church, from which flows generosity and mercy. So when I get crabby because I screwed up my coffee in the morning, or another larger frustration occurs, I am learning to find the goodness in the world, and be thankful for it, and show generosity to the world that needs it from me.

Written by Nathan John Haydon

Nathan earned his PhD studying medieval literature, especially Old English literature and theology. He's a Benedictine oblate, and he loves coffee, beer, and cats, and sometimes enjoys drinking coffee and beer at the same time while playing with a cat.