The Eve of Thanksgiving - 11-24-10

The Church Season of Trinity
Thanksgiving Eve, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 24, 2010)

“THANKSGIVING FOR ALL PEOPLE”

Readings: 
    Psalm 67
    Deuteronomy  8:1-10
    1 Timothy 2:1-4
    Luke 17:11-19

Sermon Form    Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Old Testament Lesson from the 2nd chapter of 1st Timothy especially the following verses:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

The weather changed, the days have grown shorter, the crops are now harvested, and for those who will see it, the abundance of God is again revealed in the gifts which He has given to us.  And as we gather together this time of year for Thanksgiving many families out of a sense of tradition will begin their meals by mentioning something they are particularly thankful for at this time.  And those thank-you thoughts may be for the present gathered family, or for the well-being of those who can not be with us on that day.  We take to  time thank those who prepared all the food set before us, for the love and care they took to insure the opportunity of a wonderful meal.  We thank God for friends, for our jobs, for our well-being and the well being of others.  And for all those thankful thoughts, Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful day.  Our memories tend to want to keep it that way, for our minds are filled with those Thanksgiving Days of the past, the experience of that special entrée that your mom or grandmother used to make.  And sometimes we cherish a memory of how something didn’t quite go according to plan.

And for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, nor the grace which He gives us, those memories, and those offerings of thanks all come to an abrupt end by the prompting of someone at the table saying ‘let’s eat’ or ‘go ahead and dig-in.’  And while that may indeed be the point of the national holiday of Thanksgiving, it is not at all the main point for our thanksgiving.  In fact, most people outside this place will not even know that the word thanksgiving is from the Greek word Eucharist, which is the word for Holy Communion, or Holy Eucharist. 

But, St. Paul in his great love for St. Timothy his brother in Christ and fellow evangelist, takes great care to say what thanksgiving means for Christians.  St. Paul wrote, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people”(v. 1). Here St. Paul gives, “Four synonyms for prayer, each with a different nuance. Supplications; Offered for specific benefits or needs. Prayers; A common NT term, denoting a wide array of petitions. Intercessions; Appeals for others made to God with boldness and childlike trust. Thanksgivings; Expressions of gratitude for mercies received. All these of these different ways of prayer are always appropriate, even when earthly circumstances are difficult, because we are never separated from God’s love and mercy in Christ.” And finally St. Paul closes that sentence with, 'all people.' Those are inclusive words, meaning even all unbelievers and enemies of the Church are included in the Church’s prayers.”

Now think back to your most glorious Thanksgiving meal ever.  Everything set in its place and everyone smiling and happy.  Now try for a moment to remember if anyone at that beautifully adorned table gave thanks for all the unbelievers in the world or for their enemies or the enemies of the church.  We didn’t have to think too long to know that the likes of them are not to be included in our perfect meal. But Pastor, you will say, if that is how St. Paul would describe to Timothy as the meaning of thanksgiving, to include those not loved by our world or even by us, how then can we ever have our perfect gathering?  If we include those dregs on earth whom we deplore how could we ever have that perfect Thanksgiving meal? 

Well repent and do not fear.  That perfect meal does exist, at least not on Thanksgiving Day, but it does exist for you in the Holy Eucharist. That perfect meal is not made by our hands, but rather by the right hand of God.  There Jesus Christ will feed you not just for today, but for all your tomorrows too. 

And the meal which Christ has prepared is not only for you, but for all the world and all peoples too.  For just days before His death, Jesus gave His Holy food, His Holy Eucharist.  And upon that table made of wood God in Christ shared His meal for all who would attend.  But that table of Christ’s love was set on end and the wood of the thanksgiving table became the cross.  And there upon the cross Christ died for you, and in three days time Jesus rose again, and now the Eucharist  the eternal  Thanksgiving given and shed in Jesus Christ's Body and Blood are now among us shared. 

And so the eternal Thanksgiving meal which Jesus blessed, it is for you.  Remember today, tomorrow, and forever, while you give thanks and serve a Thanksgiving meal, the Holy Thanksgiving meal the Holy Eucharist is the meal which always serves you.  It is Jesus Christ who bids you to enjoy, remember, and cherish the thanksgiving meal of tomorrow with good gifts of food, family, and friends.  But also know that Jesus bids you to enjoy that greater Thanksgiving feast prepared for you which never ends.  Amen.

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