I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge....
F ollowing the usual formula for letters, in his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul first introduced himself and his companion Sosthenes, and then described his gratitude for them and the blessings they had received.
That seems a good place to begin our Thanksgiving ceremonies. Before we consider the material gifts, the economic stability and military stability, our opportunities for work, leisure, and recreation, we should thank God for one another.
And then, for the gifts God has given to others. Sometimes, as we see how the Lord has blessed others, our envy is aroused. "I wish I had their good looks, their money, their intelligence, their family, their friends, their opportunities, their education...." The list could be endless and our fallen nature is very good at reciting and re-reciting everything we don't have, and others do have. We only need eyes to discover how much we don't have. It's a good formula for frustration, disappointment, and unhappiness.
And misses the Spirit of Thanksgiving entirely. Grace breaks open a sealed door in our selfish hearts to gratitude. Perhaps it comes as a surprise, especially to those unfamiliar with gratitude, who have formed long habits of envy, jealousy, greed, and resentment.
Grace gives us a graceful, gracious attitude toward others as we learn to admire the many ways in which they are blessed. How lovely it is! And how lovely we become. We might even enjoy ourselves in an unselfish manner as we delight in seeing and admiring the gifts others have been given. So many people have better homes! Better jobs! Better friends! And so forth. How good God is to them!
I discover this simple formula of gratitude as I reflect on the Mother of Jesus. I cannot envy the sorrows she felt or the trials she faced, but I can admire her acceptance of sorrow and her courage under trial. I can admire and be astonished at her open hearted goodness to sinners like me. Receiving John's hospitality after the crisis of Calvary, she greeted and embraced the rest of the Lord's disciples, including Peter who had denied knowing him. She embraced those who fled while she remained.
What a poor trade -- the loss of her divine son in exchange for his disciples! But she does not hesitate to see God's grace in us and thank him for it. She is there in the Upper Room with the Twelve as they receive the Spirit she had known since the Lord's conception. She delighted in both the anticipation of that Spirit, and upon its coming.
Everything about this woman is gracious and delightful, and we thank God for the gifts he gave her. We cannot envy her but we can
...give thanks to our God always on (her) account
for the grace of God bestowed on (her) in Christ Jesus,
that in him (she was,) and remains enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.